Hiking with my Brother

Palisades Trail #1198

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:13:36 PDT

Our Hiking Time: 4h 10m
Total Ascent: 2100ft
Highest Point: 4400ft
Total Distance: 8.8 miles
Location: N 47° 2.2560, W 121° 32.8800
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Moderate

We’ve spent a lot of time in the Highway 410 Corridor in the last few months, exploring both popular and less-travelled trails. This week was no exception. Following the promise of big views of the White River Valley, we decided to take on the Palisades Trail #1198, which climbs up into the rocky cliffs above Snoquera Falls.

The cliffs surrounding Snoquera Falls and rising above Camp Sheppard were likely named “palisades” for their resemblance to castle walls. There are a number of places in Washington dubbed “palisades” for this reason. You can read more about this history of this area in our post on Snoquera Falls.

The trail begins right from the highway, and wastes little time drawing you up and away from the noise. Almost immediately you will arrive at a junction with the White River Trail #1199. Keep left, following the Palisades Trail as it begins to tackle the mountainside in earnest. Following Dalles Creek, the route soon beings switchbacking up the narrow canyon through lush forest. As you climb, watch the underbrush of salal and salmonberry slowly give way to a moss-covered forest floor. A great deal of trail work has smoothed out the scree that used to be a larger problem in the first mile of trail.

Your first destination is Lower Dalles Falls, a crashing wall of water tumbling down a wall of rock. Trees obscure the top of the falls, but a short side trail allows for a closer look. Even up close you cannot get a full view of the 280ft falls, but that doesn’t stop the falls from being pretty impressive anyway. Keep in mind that this is a snow-driven creek, and in the high summer it is not much more than a glorified trickle. If you want a big show, late spring and early summer are the best time to visit. The area around the falls is also home to another often mentioned highlight of this hike - Calypso orchids, which can be found along the trail leading up to the falls during the spring months. The small, delicate flowers can be a little hard to spot if you’re not looking for them.

Push past the falls, up the wooden staircase and continue to switchback up toward some more level ground. Cross Dalles Creek and enjoy this section of level trail. Before long, at about the 2.5 mile mark, you’ll reach the first viewpoint along the trail. This is the lowest and least expansive view of the surrounding landscape, but also makes for a decent stopping point for those looking for a shorter day. Sun Top Mountain is almost directly across from you and depending on the time of year, you can pick out Skookum Falls across the valley.

If you decide to push on, you will soon be traveling through old growth, gradually climbing another mile to the next viewpoint. From here the views are impressive. Mt. Rainier and Sun Top Mountain rise above the valley. Looking southeast you can see your final destination; a rocky outcropping further down the ridge, offering commanding views of the landscape.

Press onward, following the trail as it veers away from the cliffs and briefly passes through a section of young forest still recovering from a recent harvest before dipping down and crossing Snoquera Creek. Once across, the final lookout is within reach, and before long you’re looking for a comfortable place to settle in and soak up the view. For those looking for an even longer day, you can press on to the Ranger Creek Trail #1197 for access to Little Ranger Peak and perhaps the Ranger Creek Shelter beyond. You can also push past the shelter to connect with the Noble Knob Trail #1184. From that junction it’s a quick jaunt past Twentyeight Mile Lake and up to the top.

This is an excellent trail especially in the late spring when the wildflowers are popping up and Lower Dalles Falls is really flowing. The variety of stopping points along the way also makes dealing with lingering snow a little easier. If late snow is too much after the first viewpoint, you’ve at least gotten a taste of the hike. This is fairly popular hike, and because it connects with a number of other trails, it is also one often used by mountain bikers. The trail is a little steep for some, but reaching the first viewpoint should be attainable for most hikers. With summer not yet in full swing, we recommend you try this steady climb through old growth to big views of Mt. Rainier soon.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18 Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Head left onto SR 410 for 26.8 miles to a dirt pullout on the left side of the highway, a quarter-mile past the Skookum Falls viewpoint. The trail begins here at a small signed trailhead. -Nathan

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Whitehorse Trail to Darrington

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:09:03 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 5h 10m
Total Ascent: 100ft
Highest Point: 500ft
Total Distance: 10.6 miles
Location: N 48° 16.5648, W 121° 42.3517
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

A few months ago, we were looking for a low elevation hike to explore while waited for the snows to recede from the mountaintops. After some consideration, we headed north to wander down a portion of the Whitehorse Trail, a rails-to-trails project that follows a railroad spur that once ran between Arlington to Darrington.

In 1901, the Northern Pacific Railroad finished laying down nearly 30 miles of track out to Darrington, and that same year the first train arrived ready to haul freshly mined ore back to Arlington and eventually Everett. However, the mines overpromised and under-delivered, and soon ore gave way to trains nearly overflowing with timber. Over the years, nearly a dozen small sawmills cropped up along the route, with many eventually developing into station stops that each have their own little slice of history. After Darrington struggled through the Great Depression, the timber helped fuel the town’s post-war boom.

But timber sales eventually began to wane. By the 1980s, planners began to eye the underused railroad as a possible recreation site, modeling a proposal based on other rails-to-trails projects like the Iron Horse Trail. In 1991, the railroad – today known as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) – formally abandoned the route and in 1994 work began to remove the tracks. After about two decades of work, today less than 6 miles of the 27-mile trail are officially open to the public, mostly due to lack of funds necessary to make the 16 bridges and other structures along the corridor safe for public use. And the name? That’s taken from the prominent Whitehorse Mountain the hike treks past, which was named in 1894 by W.C. Hiles, Darrington’s first postmaster, for the image of a horse he saw outlined in the snow as it melted each spring.

Although you can start on either end of this trail, we recommend hiking from Swede Heaven Road toward Darrington. From the Swede Heaven Trailhead, the trail begins on a quiet neighborhood street, and wanders into a mixed forest following the North Fork Stillaguamish. The river, though sometimes obscured behind a thin wall of trees, makes a pleasant walking companion as you continue down the graveled railbed. The hike will take you over streams, across roads, and through Darrington Bluegrass Music Park’s amphitheater where you can catch views of Whitehorse Mountain looming nearby.

Around the half-way point, you’ll reach Riverbend, where the North Fork Stillaguamish peels away from the trail and the trees open up for views of the mountains to the north, including Mt. Higgins, Round Mountain, and North Mountain. If you’re looking for a shorter day, follow the trails leading down to the river for a decent picnic location. But, if you’re looking for more, continue onward, passing through a swath of powerlines and into the most remote section of the trail. Enjoy a mile or so of quiet forest before encountering the edges of a logging operation. Find the other end of the trail not too long after.

This is a great choice for an off-season hike. Flat and wide, it’s approachable for any hiker and is also popular with bikers. While most of the trail abuts backyards, logging mills and other trappings of civilization, the occasional views are good and sections of trail do manage to feel like you’re deeper in the forest than you are. If you’re looking for more adventure, the Snohomish County Park Service clears out the rail corridor between Arlington and Swede Heaven Road every year, making it easier for folks to cautiously explore the roughly 20 miles of trail still officially closed to public use.

To get there, take I-5 north to Exit 208 and drive east on SR 530 22.5 miles to Swede Heaven Road. Take a left and find the trail a half-mile down the road. There is a small amount of parking here, otherwise head back out to SR 530 to find parking. If you prefer to start in Darrington, continue on SR 530 into Darrington to Railroad Avenue. Take a left and find the trailhead and a small parking lot at the end of the road. -Nathan

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Sun Top Lookout Trail #1183

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:17:25 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 1h
Total Ascent: 600ft
Highest Point: 5280ft
Total Distance: 1.2 miles
Location: N 47° 2.4540, W 121° 35.7900
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

Last week we headed back out on Highway 410 to check out one of the most popular and easily accessible fire lookouts in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Sun Top Lookout. During high summer, anyone willing to spend sometime on some dirt roads can drive to the summit; during the rest of the year, reaching the lookout cabin is more of a challenge. With snow still on the ground, we headed out to see how close we could get.

So is it Suntop or Sun Top? If you ask the US Geological Survey and the National Register of Geographical Place Names, it is officially Sun Top. The US Forest Service seems on the fence, using both Suntop and Sun Top interchangeably, but ultimately seems to have decided on Suntop, as that’s what is carved into the signs along the trail and nailed to the side of the lookout. And because no one – including the folks over at the Historic American Buildings Survey – seems to know how the mountain and lookout got its name, it’s not clear which one is more correct.

The exact details of the construction of the lookout are somewhat hazy, but it was most likely built in 1933, given that its pyramidal roof indicates it was built to specifications developed in 1932. The L-4 Lookout House, as it was called, was designed to be hauled up a mountainside by a train of mules and easily assembled by crews as small as one or two people. From 1942-43, the lookout was staffed by volunteers as part of the US Army Aircraft Warning System, which kept an eye out for possible enemy aircraft. Until 1956, access was via a 6-mile trail from the White River. After that, the road was completed to the summit, allowing everyone easy access to the big views at the top. Over the years the lookout fell into disrepair. It was rescued and restored in the 1980s, entering the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

There are many ways to reach Sun Top Lookout. One could take the Suntop Trail #1183, which, depending on who you ask, is a 14 or 16 mile day and begins near the Ranger Creek Airstrip. During the winter months, one can snowshoe the nearly 6 mile long FR 7515 up to the summit. Others prefer to combine two short hikes, driving out to nearby the Huckleberry Creek Trail to take a forested stroll along a creek, then driving up to Sun Top. Finally, if all the gates are open, you can just drive to the top. We’ve never been fans of hiking on a forest road if we didn’t have to, so we recommend finding a nearby hike to combine with Sun Top.

From any approach, the views from the lookout are well worth the effort. In the distance are big views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Stuart along with Mt. Baker and the Olympic Mountains. Far below, the mountain is surrounded by water, with Huckleberry Creek to the west and the larger White River to the east. Find a picnic table or a comfortable patch of grass and enjoy the views.

If you’ve never had the chance to get up to Sun Top, we recommend you find some time this summer to check it out. It is a fantastic opportunity to share iconic and stunning landscapes with anyone. Of course, with such access comes quite a bit of traffic. If you’re looking to enjoy the views with less company, you’ll need to come when the snows melt just enough to reach the parking lot a half-mile below the lookout, but before the lookout gates open making it easy to drive to the top. For our part, we came a little early and were stopped by snow about a mile from the lower lot, and slogged up the logging road to the lookout.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18, Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Head left onto SR 410 for 25 miles to Huckleberry Creek Road (FR 73). Take a right and follow FR 73 for 1.3 miles to the gated 7315, which is closed during the winter. Parking is available here. Veer left up 7315 for 4.8 miles to the Doe Falls Trailhead. If the gate is open, you can continue up another mile to the summit parking lot just below the lookout. Otherwise park here and find the trail a short ways up the road. -Nathan

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Old Government Trail #733

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:16:54 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 1h 45m
Total Ascent: 300ft
Highest Point: 2300ft
Total Distance: 4.0 miles
Location: N 48° 1.6020, W 121° 26.6340
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

Last fall, just before the snows closed the Mountain Loop Highway for the winter, we headed out to Barlow Pass to hike up to Barlow Point, the site of a former fire lookout. While we were there, we also rounded out our exploration of the area by trekking down the Old Government Trail #733.

The Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad reached Barlow Pass in late 1893, largely following the rough roads and trails blazed by prospectors and explorers to bring supplies out to Monte Cristo. As workers neared the Pass, they ran into a rocky outcropping blocking the route. Undeterred, they blasted a gap through the rock wide enough to lay track and moved on. That gap is now known as the Barlow Cut. With Monte Cristo’s burgeoning mining operations now connected to the smelters in Everett, a steady stream of trains kept the tracks busy. All that increased traffic led to predictable results. In 1905, as so often happened in that era, a spark from a locomotive started a forest fire near the tracks, which quickly spread, eventually climbing up the mountainsides of nearby Mt. Dickerman. Today, you can still find burnt stumps along the Old Government Trail as lingering evidence of that fire.

Starting from the parking lot at Barlow Pass, the trail begins under a heavy canopy of fir and hemlock. After a third of a mile, the nearly flat trail encounters a junction with the Barlow Point Trail. Veer left, heading downhill and following the sign pointing toward the Old Government Trail. The fern-lined trail quickly descends down toward the railroad grade. The trail parallels the highway, which is partially obscured by foliage in the spring and summer but a fairly constant companion in the fall, and wanders past moss-covered cliffs and boggy marshes as it travels across talus fields. Rocks from these fields were used to build foundations that supported locomotives filled with coal and ore. Continue onward until you reach a set of small waterfalls near the end of the trail.

At this point, you can continue on the trail down to the Mountain Loop Highway, and walk it back to the parking lot for a loop, or just stop for lunch and head back along the trail. If you’re up for it, there is some extra exploring that is possible along this hike – you can leave the trail at certain points and connect with sections of the railbed. Here you will find the Barlow Cut and a small interpretive sign outlining some of the area’s history.

This is a very short hike, and it is probably best combined with a short trek up to Barlow Point, as they make for a full day of hiking if taken together. An easy hike for all ages, Old Government Trail isn’t spectacular, but it’s very accessible and together with Barlow Point gives hikers a taste of more challenging hikes in the nearby Monte Cristo area. Next time you’re out at Barlow Pass, consider adding a short side trip down the Old Government Trail #733.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Take the MLH for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Find the trailhead parking lot on your left. -Nathan

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Raging River Trail - Tiger Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:56:14 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 4h 15m
Total Ascent: 1200ft
Highest Point: 1800ft
Total Distance: 9.0 miles
Location: N 47° 29.0640, W 121° 52.3520
Required Permit: Discover Pass
Difficulty: Moderate

A few weeks ago we decided to stay a little closer to home and visit a lesser known portion of the Tiger Mountain State Forest. While we had a vague idea that there was portion of the Forest around the Raging River, we found very little information on it. Thinking that we could share a little of what we found with our readers, we set out on our expedition.

While our hike was all within the Tiger Mountain State Forest, just across Highway 18 is the 7,000-acre Raging River Forest that connects the Tiger Mountain State Forest with Rattlesnake Mountain Recreation Area and also contains the headwaters of the Raging River. The river is named for the large seasonal variation in the volume of water that sometimes “rages” past its banks, often causing flooding damage, most recently in 2006. The river is also an important habitat for Chinook salmon that eventually find their way into the Snoqualmie River. For decades Weyerhaeuser managed the Raging River Forest, before selling it to the Fruit Growers Supply Company in the late 1990s. During that time the Raging River Forest represented one of the largest gaps in the Mountains to Sound Greenway. After years of effort, the Washington Department of Resources and King County partnered to purchase the forest in May 2009.

Note: while the majority of our hike was on trails, a washout at Deep Creek required a log crossing and some bushwhacking to get back to the trail. This section of the hike should be approached with caution.

From the trailhead, the Raging River Trail leads into a clearing carved into the forest for the power lines crackling overhead. Here you can head right and take the short side trail down to the Raging River and walk under the bridge to the riverside. Across the water, you'll see a trail that heads up through the Raging River Forest and eventually connects with the Rattlesnake Mountain Trail - but currently, there's no easy way to cross the river and access the trail. So, after you’ve checked out the river, head back to the main trail and follow it a few tenths of a mile to Deep Creek. Along the way you’ll pass side trails snaking off into the woods. Avoid these, as they usually lead to private property.

Once you reach the washout at Deep Creek, follow a boot path down to the water and carefully make your way across the creek on a fallen log. Once across, find a faint path leading up into the forest, through some bramble and eventually back to the Raging River Trail under the power lines. Push up to the top of the rise to connect with the East Tiger Road 7000 (variously labeled on different maps as Road 7500, Road 7000 and Highway 18 Powerline). From here you have a choice. You can head left following the power lines to the Tiger Summit Trailhead, or head right deeper into the forest.

We recommend you head right and follow the East Tiger Road two miles to the Preston Railroad Trail. Along the way you will pass junctions for the Northwest Timber Trail and the Silent Swamp Trail. Skip the Northwest Timber Trail as it just heads out to the Tiger Summit Trailhead, but when the Silent Swamp Trail re-opens after trail construction is complete, it will be possible to make a short loop by following it up to the main road and then following it back down to the East Tiger Road. Once you reach the Preston Railroad Trail, you can follow it up to the summit of East Tiger and all its radio tower glory.

We don’t recommend this hike for everyone. This is more for those folks that have a sense of adventure and don’t mind a little bushwhacking and route finding. This is also a decent choice if you’re looking for a nearby hike that avoids the crowds. Until a bridge is built across either Deep Creek or the Raging River there is not much easily accessible from the Raging River Trailhead. However, if you can navigate the log spanning Deep Creek, you can explore portions of the Tiger Mountain State Forest usually seen only by mountain bikers. Or, if you don’t mind fording the Raging River, you could easily make a day out of climbing up the backside of Rattlesnake Mountain.

To get to East Tiger, take I-90 to Exit 25 Highway 18 junction. Take Highway 18 south for 1.5 miles to the Raging River Bridge. Cross the bridge and almost immediately take a right onto a blue-gated road. This unsigned area is the Raging River Trailhead and has enough room for about four cars. -Nathan

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Barlow Point Trail #709

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:18:05 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 1h 15m
Total Ascent: 850ft
Highest Point: 3200ft
Total Distance: 2.2 miles
Location: N 48° 2.2380, W 121° 26.5920
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

A few months ago, just before the snows closed the Mountain Loop Highway for the winter, we headed out to Barlow Pass to do a little exploring. While most hikers heading out to Barlow Pass have their sights set on Monte Cristo or Gothic Basin, we took a short jaunt up to Barlow Point, the site of a former fire lookout.

As we’ve mentioned in the past, prospector F.M. Headlee is credited with discovering Barlow Pass around 1891. Around the same time, the continued expansion of the Monte Cristo mines meant that a railroad was needed to transport ore to Everett for processing. The mining companies hired John Q. Barlow to survey the railroad route and the pass was named in his honor. For whatever reason, there are a number of publications that claim Barlow Pass was named after pioneer Samuel K. Barlow. While that is true for the Barlow Pass in Oregon, Washington’s Barlow Pass was named after the railroad surveyor.

The Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad ran right through Barlow Pass on its way to Monte Cristo. Mining companies built warehouses at the pass for storing supplies and the Forest Service built a guard station. Around 1916 a large forest fire cleared the trees from the ridge above Barlow Pass, and in 1935 a fire lookout was built on that ridge. Rangers working for the Forest Service would reside in the guard house and hike up to the fire tower when fire danger was high. The tower and guard station were removed in 1964.

The forested trail begins from the parking lot at Barlow Pass, the site of the Forest Service guard station. The first moss-lined section of trail is nearly flat, winding under the trees for a third of a mile before reaching the junction with the Old Government Trail #733. Veer right, following the sign pointing the way up toward Barlow Point. From here, the trail begins to steepen, switchbacking up toward the rocky ridgeline.

After climbing a little over 800 feet, you’ll find yourself at the remnants of the fire lookout. Nothing more than a few scraps of metal and cable remain. Although the trees have grown up to obscure the views, on a good clear day you can pick out quite a few peaks. Looking east over the South Fork Sauk River are the rocky cliffs of Sheep Mountain. To the north are Dickerman Mountain and Twin Peaks. Looking west over the South Fork Stillaguamish Valley is Big Four Mountain and Hall Peak. To the south find Lewis Peak and Silvertip Peak.

This short hike is probably best combined with a tour of the Old Government Trail #733, as together they make up enough trail time to justify the trek out to Barlow Pass. Although the trail to the lookout site is on the steep side, the short distance should make it a destination that almost every hiker can reach. And, because the narrow trail is well-maintained, it’s a good option for younger hikers. Next time you’re out at Barlow Pass, consider adding this short side-trip up to a former fire lookout.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Take the MLH for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Find the trailhead parking lot on your left. -Nathan

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Evans Creek Preserve Loop

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:56:05 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 1h
Total Ascent: 100ft
Highest Point: 200ft
Total Distance: 1.8 miles
Location: N 47° 38.5200, W 122° 2.6760
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

During the off-season, when mountaintops and forest roads are still covered in snow, we will often go looking for some low-elevation alternatives. There are quite a few “hidden” parks, reserves, and recreation areas tucked into the Cascade foothills. Some have extensive trail systems that provide real hiking opportunities, others are smaller and their trails are ideal for shorter walks. A few weeks ago, we visited Evans Creek Preserve, one of those areas on the smaller end of the scale, and found more variety than we were expecting on this former farmstead.

Around 1900, Calvin and Minnie Galley settled on the land we now know as the Evans Creek Preserve, built a house, and started a farm. As the years passed the farm become home to their son, Newton Galley, and his wife Kathryn, who lived there until they passed away in the mid-1990s. After owning property for nearly 100 years, the Galley family willed it to their alma mater, the University of Washington, as well as Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Home Society, the Masonic Home, Redmond United Methodist Church and Whitman College. These organizations agreed to sell the farmstead to the City of Sammamish for $1.5 million in November of 2000. That sale began an 11-year effort that eventually resulted in the Evans Creek Preserve.

The city originally intended the 179-acre Preserve to have ball fields and other play spaces. But by 2002, the decision was made to protect and preserve the wetlands and forests contained within the property. The effort to convert the property from farmstead to preserve involved over 400 workers and volunteers, thousands of hours of work and at least one deployment of 50 goats to clear vegetation. The Washington Trails Association contributed 250 volunteers who put in over 7000 hours building the two and a half mile trail system. The buildings from the farmstead had to be torn down and removed, including the house built by Calvin Galley in 1900. By 2011, the work was complete and the Evans Creek Preserve opened to the public on October 22 of that year.

From the parking lot, the trail heads over a creek and branches off through meadows and into wetlands and mixed forest. The interconnected trail system is a series of loops complete with small bridges, viewing platforms, and an extensive boardwalk. Take a slow stroll through the varied landscape, enjoy the occasional view and, if you’re lucky, spot some wildlife. Although Evans Creek Preserve isn’t the rugged outdoors, it is a decent alternative for those looking for something different. The new trails are perfect for trail running, walking the dog, or just spending a little time outside. The ADA-accessible sections of the trail will also support strollers as well, making this perfect choice for introducing a little one to the great outdoors.

To get there, take SR 520 to the Redmond Way exit (SR 202). Veer right and merge onto SR 202 (also known as the Redmond-Fall City Road). Follow SR 202 for about three and a half miles to 224th Ave NE. Turn right and find a small parking area a short way down the road. Note that there is also a sign at the intersection of SR 202 and 224th indicating that NE 34th, a private road, begins at the end of 224th. -Nathan

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Snow Lakes Trail #1553 to Enchantment Lakes

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:22:00 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 9h
Total Ascent: 4200ft
Highest Point: 5500ft
Total Distance: 13.6 miles
Location: N 47° 29.1540, W 120° 44.9100
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass, Enchantments Permit for overnight stays
Difficulty: Hard

One of our backpacking excursions last fall took us into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and up to The Enchantments. While we have backpacked through the region before, this was the first time we have been able to experience the fall colors and the changing of the seasons. Our approach took us up to Snow Lakes, a popular stopover point for those heading up to the Enchantments Basin.

Back in the 1930s the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam had an immediate impact on salmon runs. The Bureau of Land Reclamation worked to solve the issue through fish hatcheries, one of which was built on Icicle Creek to release into the Wenatchee River below the dam. Unfortunately, the Bureau quickly realized that fluctuations in the water levels of Icicle Creek would cause problems for a sustainable hatchery. The problem was a lack of cold water; the solution was to tap the nearby Snow Lakes seven miles upstream.

In 1938 the Forest Service cut a trail up to Nada Lake and the Snow Lakes and a base camp was established on Nada Lake. From 1939-1942 crews worked to drive a 9-foot wide, 2,250-foot long tunnel through solid granite under Lower Snow Lake to the bottom of Upper Snow Lake. At the same time, a small dam was constructed to regulate the water levels between the upper and lower lake. Today, water drains from the bottom of the 150-foot deep Upper Snow Lake to a bulkhead where it is funneled into a pipe and shot out toward Nada Lake. A series of valves controls the amount of water discharged. On average the system is in operation 77 days a year, usually between July and October, and releases an average of 3,700 acre-feet of water.

The hike to Snow Lakes begins from the parking lot by following a maintenance road over Icicle Creek and past concrete canals. From the road the trail begins a slow switchback up into the sloping canyon. As you climb, evidence of the fires that ravaged the area in 1994 can still be seen. The skeletons of charred trees line the trail, though after nearly 20 years the underbrush has obscured much of the damage. However, the underbrush has yet to grow up enough to provide much in the way of shade, so this first section of the hike has a lot of sun exposure, making it hot and dusty during the summer.

As you leave the burn area and the faint smell of ash behind, the trail enters a pine forest and bends closer to Snow Creek, providing access to occasional creekside rest stops. Around the two mile mark the trail meanders past large cliff faces that are frequented by rock climbers and soon begins to veer up the rocky canyon slopes. Continue another two miles through talus fields, scattered sections of forest and brush-lined sections of trail to the sturdy footbridge crossing Snow Creek. Soon find yourself sharing the trail with Nada Creek as you push up to the marshy end of Nada Lake. While most hikers press onward to Snow Lakes on their quest to reach the Enchantments Basin, some choose to overnight in the quiet solitude of Nada Lake. Several campsites line the lower section of the lake. If nothing else, the shores of Nada Lake are an excellent resting point to recharge for the final push to Snow Lakes a mile and a half up the trail.

Continuing onward, the trail quickly and steeply rises up the slopes above Nada Lake. If water is being released from Snow Lake, you will see the spray gushing from the cliffs above Nada Lake. As you get closer, at a switchback in the trail, a bootpath leads out to the tunnel and the control valves for the drainage system. Push upward through rocky terrain to the relief of the forests that surround Snow Lakes. The trail leads across the small dam that controls the water level between the lakes. Depending on the time of year, Upper Snow Lake may be quite low, exposing sandy shores covered in the bleached wood of fallen trees. The craggy heights of The Temple rise dramatically above Upper Snow Lake creating a scene that epitomizes the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Many campsites can be found around both lakes.

Snow Lakes is a decent backpacking destination unto itself, though most folks undertake the dusty trek with the intent of pushing upward into the Enchantments Basin. Because permits to overnight in the core Enchantments Zone can be hard to come by, the Snow Lakes make a perfect base camp for day hiking the area by using the more easily obtained overnight Snow Lakes Permit. Somewhat challenging, this trip is best taken in the company of those with at least some wilderness and backpacking experience. It can be done as a long day hike, though we recommend against it. The difficulty of the trail on a hot summer day combined with the chance that Upper Snow Lake could be low and somewhat less than majestic probably makes this a little too much effort for one day. Save this one for a short overnight or as part of your exploration of the Enchantments Basin.

To get there, take US 2 to Leavenworth. Just before you enter town, take a right onto Icicle Creek Road (FR 76). Follow Icicle Creek Road for just over four miles to a large parking lot on your left. Park and find the trailhead at the far end of the lot. -Nathan

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Noble Knob Trail #1184

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:45:12 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 4h 10m
Total Ascent: 500ft
Highest Point: 6,011ft
Total Distance: 7.0 miles
Location: N 47° 2.7540, W 121° 29.5500
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

A few months ago, back before the autumn leaves fell and the winter snows settled in, we were planning a hike out toward Mt. Rainier along Highway 410. With relatives in tow we wanted a hike that was not too difficult, but would also offer a destination with some good views. After doing a little research, we settled on the well-trodden Noble Knob trail, which proved to be the perfect choice.

Noble Knob is perched at a high point along the Dalles Ridge. It is named for the Nobel firs that would cover the summit if they had not all been burned in forest fires. Over the years, the area around Noble Knob has seen its fair share of fires, including a large burn in 1890. The exposed ridgeline and prolific wildflowers are a lasting legacy of those fires. A fire cabin was constructed on Noble Knob in 1934, shortly after another wildfire ravaged the area in the 1920s. Evidence of that forest fire and the newly-constructed cabin can be seen in this 1934 photograph looking southwest from Noble Knob. More evidence of the fire is shown in photographs taken looking to the north and southeast. The cabin was destroyed in 1954 and was not replaced, probably because other towers had been constructed nearby.

There is a trailhead at either end of the Noble Knob Trail #1184, one from Corral Pass and another off of Twentyeight Mile Road (FR #72). The Corral Pass approach has a more developed trailhead, whereas the Twentyeight Mile Road approach has paved portions that make access a little bit easier on your vehicle. We opted for Corral Pass mostly because it’s by far the more popular of the two.

From the Corral Pass Trailhead the route begins mildly, alternating between roadbed and trail while wandering through meadows and sparse stands of fir and pine. During the late spring, these areas are bursting with wildflowers, and in the fall the underbrush is a sea of reds, oranges, and yellows. The first mile or so is more or less flat, quickly transporting you to your first glimpses of snow-covered Mt. Rainier at roughly a mile and a half from the parking lot. As you gain the ridgeline and traverse along the southern shoulders of Mutton Mountain the trail continues to open up while skirting the edge of the Norse Peak Wilderness to the north.

Just before the two-mile mark you will reach a junction with the Deep Creek Trail #1196. Stay to the right and continue following the ridgeline as the trail turns north continuing to parallel the Norse Peak Wilderness to the west, ever so briefly entering it for a few moments two and three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead. You’ll know you went through the Wilderness when you encounter the junction with the Dalles Ridge Trail #1173 at three miles. Head right, staying on the Noble Knob Trail to the next junction in a tenth of a mile. Here the trail splits in three directions. The path to the right is the Lost Lake Trail #1185, leading into the Wilderness and to the shores of Lost Lake. The trail to the left heads out to the other end of the Noble Knob Trail and the alternative trailhead, as well as a side trail leading down to Twentyeight Mile Lake. To reach the summit, take the middle path straight up to the top.

As you climb, the views only improve. Catch glimpses of Lost Lake to the west, and Twentyeight Mile Lake to the east. There is some confusion around the name of this lake – some USGS maps label it Twentymile Lake. Most likely the product of a typographical error somewhere along the line, the official name for this little lake is Twentyeight Mile Lake. Before you know it you will have reached the top and its 360-degree views. Mt. Rainier seems almost close enough to touch. Look north for your first view of George Lake in the meadow-filled cirque below you. Forested peaks spread out in every direction. Find good place to settle in and enjoy the views.

This is an ideal trail to introduce anyone to hiking in Washington – whether you’re bringing the little ones, encouraging friends to get outside, or entertaining relatives in from out of town. It is a rare trail that can deliver such spectacular views with only 500ft of elevation gain. This ease of access does make Noble Knob a very popular destination during the hiking season, so expect to be sharing the trail and the views with other hikers and mountain bikers. Keep in mind that all this traffic churns up the trail, making it a hot and dusty hike in the summer. The possibility of crowds aside, we recommend everyone put this on their hiking list to tackle in the near future.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18, Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Head left onto SR 410 and continue 31.2 miles through the town of Greenwater to the Corral Pass Road #7174 on the left. Follow #7174 for 6.7 miles to the signed trailhead and a small parking area. Additional parking can be found a tenth of a mile further down #7174. -Nathan

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Spruce Railroad Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:47:47 PST

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Our Hiking Time: 3h
Total Ascent: 100ft
Highest Point: 650ft
Total Distance: 8 miles
Location: N 48° 5.6160, W 123° 48.1440
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

During the winter months we often switch between snowshoeing beneath snow-heavy trees and brisk lowland hikes along rivers and lakes. A few weeks ago we opted for the latter and took a drive out to the Olympic Peninsula to Lake Crescent and the Spruce Railroad Trail.

In 1856, the deep, 12-mile glacier lake now known as Lake Crescent was dubbed Lake Everett by John Everett and John J. Sutherland, a pair of hunters and trappers who also lent their name to nearby Lake Sutherland. But by 1890, boosters in nearby Port Crescent began referring to it as Lake Crescent, in a bid to raise the prominence of the logging boom town and attract more settlers. The ploy failed and by the end of 1893, Port Crescent was all but abandoned. Today, the settlement is gone, but Lake Crescent remains, likely named not only for its own vaguely crescent shape, but also after the shape of Crescent Bay where Port Crescent once stood.

In 1917, the United States entered World War I and quickly needed vast supplies of Sitka spruce to produce warplanes. At the time, Sitka spruce was the gold standard in warplane material, and within a year the Army formed the Spruce Production Division to help pull as much spruce out of Northwest forests as possible. To that end, the Spruce Production Division Railroad No. 1 began construction in May 1918, eventually stretching 36 miles along Lake Crescent and into the Olympic Forest. The effort involved the blasting of two tunnels and was constructed at breakneck speed, compressing a 1-2 year project into just 6 months. As impressive as that feat was, it was not fast enough to beat the end of the war, which stopped timber operations before the railroad could haul a single spruce. The railway languished for a few years until 1925 when Port Angeles Western Railroad operated the line before tapering off in 1951 and officially abandoning it in 1953. After that the Spruce Railroad again languished for nearly 30 years until 1981, when portions of the line along the lake were converted to the Spruce Railroad Road Trail.

Two trailheads serve the Spruce Railroad Trail, allowing hikers to start at either end, or take two cars and shuttle between the trailheads for shorter hike. From the eastern trailhead, the route begins easily, following the bones of one of the many logging roads built to bring lumber down to the railway. Firs and hemlocks thicken as you move beyond a few cabins and houses clustered near the trailhead. Before long, the trail dips down toward the lake, finding portions of the railbed as it skirts along the lake. The first mile of trail involves a few of these ups and downs as you make your way around the base of Pyramid Mountain, and the views of the lake begin to widen. As you progress, the firs begin to give way to madronas and the trail dips down to the lakeshore and crosses over a deep swimming hole known as the Devil’s Punchbowl. The bridge offers one of the first of many big views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Pick out Mount Storm King almost directly across the water, and Mount Aurora and Mount Sugardough as you look to the south.

As you continue past the bridge you soon regain the railbed and may notice a rough path up the mountainside. If you’re feeling adventurous, scramble up to find one of the tunnels built for the railway. These are not particularly safe at the moment, and we don’t recommend exploring them unless you have the right experience and gear. After you’ve taken a look at the tunnel, press onward along the lakeshore for more pristine views of Lake Crescent and sections of quiet forest. There are some great spots to take a break along the way. After 4 miles you’ll reach the far trailhead. Turn around and enjoy the walk in reverse.

This trail is a great winter hiking option as the lake tends to minimize the snow. It is relatively flat, with just a few portions of elevation as the trail deviates from the railbed, making it a good choice for bringing along the whole family or maybe some of your non-hiking friends. This is also a mixed use trail, and one that allows mountain bikes and stock. So you can expect a variety of company along the way during the warmer months. Currently a project is underway that will re-route and pave portions of the trail, re-open the tunnels and add new sections to the trail, all with the intent of bringing more traffic to the area. Whatever the effect of this change, the Spruce Railroad Trail will continue to be a decent winter hike well into the future.

To get there, take the Bainbridge Island Ferry, following State Route 305 through Poulsbo to State Route 3. Follow SR 3 to the Hood Canal Bridge, taking a left over the bridge onto State Route 104. Follow SR 104 as it merges onto US 101 and continue another 36 miles to Port Angeles, taking a left on Lincoln Street to stay on US 101. Continue 17 miles to East Beach Road and take a right. Continue for about 4 miles, crossing the Lyre River to a road signed Spruce Railroad Trail. Take a left and find the parking for the trailhead where the public road ends. -Nathan

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Staircase Rapids Loop #112

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:25:38 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 2h
Total Ascent: 100ft
Highest Point: 900ft
Total Distance: 2 miles
Location: N 47° 31.4460, W 123° 20.5140
Required Permit: National Park Pass
Difficulty: Easy

A few weeks ago we rang in the New Year with a trip out to the Olympic Peninsula to tour one of its most popular trails: Staircase Rapids. Located near Lake Cushman, this nearly flat riverwalk has attracted hikers for over a century. With blue skies above Seattle, we grabbed our snowshoes and started the long trek out to the North Fork Skokomish River.

As the 1880s began, the fact that no one had explored the Olympics or ever crossed the peninsula was a challenge that industrious men of the age felt a need to respond to. Local tribes had no interest in the area beyond the foothills, which meant the peaks and valleys of the Olympics held secrets few if any had ever seen. A few parties attempted explorations, but it was an ambitious Army officer Lieutenant Joseph P. O'Neil who, after an aborted attempt in 1885, managed to blaze a serviceable mule trail 93 miles across the peninsula in 1890. That trail became one of the main points of access into the Olympic interior, and today the Staircase Rapids Trail follows portions of that early route.

Although the rapids along the North Fork Skokomish River look a bit like a staircase, the name comes from a particularly difficult bluff that O’Neil’s mule trail took travelers over at one time. A small cedar staircase was constructed over portions of this bluff, and the task of climbing it was unpleasant enough that many referred to it as the “Devil’s Staircase.” By 1911, money was put toward smoothing out the O’Neil route, and an easier path was dynamited out of the rocky bluff that once stood near the Staircase Campground to make what is now referred to as the Shady Lane Trail.

The trail begins from the Staircase Ranger Station and crosses a causeway over the North Fork Skokomish River. Here the Shady Lane Trail branches off to the left, but keep to the right and follow the Rapids Loop trail into the forest. Here the wide, flat trail wanders beneath a canopy of fir, hemlock and cedar. Almost immediately a sign beckons you toward a Big Cedar, which succumbed to age and winter storms in 1999. Still, the fallen giant is 14ft in diameter and is worth the short side trip to visit it.

Return to the main trail and before long the route bends toward the river and the roar of the rapids. Take time to linger at the many alcoves and viewing points to enjoy the cascading water and large pools. At about 1 mile, the trail branches off to the bridge, and connects with the North Fork Skokomish Trail. The current suspension bridge replaced a bridge that had been washed out since the 1990s, finally restoring route to a loop. Now hikers are able to easily cross the water and make the loop back to the parking lot.

If you’re looking for a little more hike, you can continue onward past the bridge for another mile to Beaver Flats, a wide expanse that offers views of Mt. Lincoln and the lingering traces of the 1985 Beaver Fire, accidentally set by campers in the area. The trail here is a little rougher and less traveled, but its is still navigable out to the two mile mark where the trail intersects Four Stream, so named as it is the fourth of nine streams that enter the river between Lake Cushman and the river’s source.

This truly is a hike for all seasons. Accessible all year, this loop works for a quick snowshoe or a short summer hike. Because the distance and elevation are fairly minimal, this hike works well for young hikers and first time snowshoers. This is also a very popular destination with many trails linking to other nearby destinations, so expect a little company as you head out to Staircase. There’s less traffic in the winter, so if you’re looking for an introductory snowshoe, Staircase Rapids is a good bet.

To get there, take I-5 south to Olympia to Exit 104 toward Aberdeen and Port Angeles. Follow US 101 along Hood Canal just over 35 miles through Shelton to Hoodsport. Turn left onto Lake Cushman Road/State Route 119 and follow for a little over 9 miles to a T-intersection. Head left onto Forest Road 24. Continue for about 6 miles to the Staircase Ranger Station and the parking lot. Note that FR 24’s pavement turns to gravel after the first 2 miles. -Nathan

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Glacier Basin Trail #719

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:29:46 PST

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Our Hiking Time: 7h
Total Ascent: 2200ft
Highest Point: 4400ft
Total Distance: 13 miles
Location: N 47° 58.7460, W 121° 21.7860
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Hard

A few months ago we headed out to the Monte Cristo townsite to explore Glacier Basin, a rough hike that sees far fewer hikers than nearby Gothic Basin. Complete with waterfalls, wildflowers and relics of Monte Cristo’s mining past, we wasted no time clambering up into this alpine cirque. NOTE: The US Forest Service will be closing Monte Cristo in the spring of 2013 for a cleanup operation that will last until 2015. During this time both townsite and this approach to Glacier Basin will be closed.

Situated at the base of Monte Cristo Peak, Glacier Basin was at the center of Monte Cristo’s mining activity in the 1890s. The basin is named for glaciers that carved out the cirque in the distant past, and while there is almost always some snow lingering in Glacier Basin, there are no longer any glaciers. The basin is riddled with mine shafts and tunnels, with at least one long passage running underneath the basin to connect mines in Cadet Peak on the east side of the basin with Mystery Ridge on the west. When mining operations were in full swing, a massive aerial tramway hauled ore across Glacier Basin in buckets along 1,200ft of cable to a station located on Mystery Ridge. From there the tramway sent the buckets down to Monte Cristo to concentrators that separated the ore from less useful material. Today you can still find evidence of this tramway station on the ridge.

The approach to Glacier Basin follows the old Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad grade into Monte Cristo. Currently the bridge over the South Fork Sauk River is out, forcing hikers to cross on a large cedar log. However, a new road to Monte Cristo is being built as part of the Monte Cristo cleanup project, which will eliminate this issue. The walk to Monte Cristo is a flat and easy, and the four miles to the townsite passes quickly. Once you arrive, cross the bridge over ’76 Creek and head up Dumas Street past a few shacks and historical markers. The street hits a junction, continue straight ahead to find the beginning of Glacier Basin Trail #719.

The trail begins by following the remains of a railroad grade that was built in the 1890s to support the mines. As you continue on the trail the thick forest of cedar and fir soon begins to recede, and you’ll find yourself walking through underbrush and catching sight of Glacier Falls in the distance. Glacier Creek tumbles down from Glacier Basin in a number of cascades of varying sizes, some hidden in between folds of rock, appearing and disappearing as you approach. At times you might notice a partially exposed pipe along the trail. This pipe once funneled water from the falls to the power plant for the Justice Mine.

From here, the trail quickly becomes steep and rough, climbing straight up the flanks of Mystery Hill with little in the way of switchbacks to smooth the route. At the top of Glacier Falls a ledge provides a good rest stop before pushing on to the most difficult portion of the trail. Rocky and very steep, use caution as you pick your way up sections challenging enough to prompt helpful folks to leave ropes tied to trees to help you along. Eventually, as the trail rounds Mystery Hill and heads into the beginnings of Glacier Basin, the route begins to level out. Here, Foggy Peak stands guard opposite the imposing spires of Wilmans Peak, named for Fred Wilmans, one of the original Monte Cristo prospectors.

Continue into the basin following the trail as it meanders along next to Glacier Creek. The trail splits at one point, one path heading up into talus fields and bringing you closer to mine tailings and abandoned adits, the other follows the creek and is less accessible when the waters run high. Either way you will soon find yourself at the end of the line, staring up at the rocky peaks that line Glacier Basin’s walls. Starting from the east is Cadet Peak or The Cadets, which line up along the ridgeline before surrendering to Monte Cristo Peak to the south. Swinging west from Monte Cristo Peak, the Wilmans Peaks and Spires steal the show, before dropping off at beginning of Mystery Ridge and ending at Mystery Hill. The tree-covered mound in the middle of the basin is known as Ray’s Knoll, and there are established campsites there.

Explore the basin or find a nice rock to settle down on for lunch. If you’re hungry for more climbing, there are routes up to the ridgeline, which will give you long views of the surrounding mountains, as well as Blanca Lake tucked in the neighboring valley.

This is not an easy hike, and it is likely a little too long for most day hikers. Some of the distance can be removed by biking to Monte Cristo, but hauling your bike across the South Fork Sauk River isn’t for everyone. However, this does make for a decent weekend backpacking trip, and you’re unlikely to meet too many other folks on this less-traveled trail.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Take the MLH for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Park and find the gated Monte Cristo Road on the right side of the road, opposite the trailhead parking lot. -Nathan

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Coal Mines Trail - Cle Elum to Roslyn

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:09:16 PST

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Our Hiking Time: 2h 20m
Total Ascent: 200ft
Highest Point: 2200ft
Total Distance: 6.5 miles
Location: N 47° 12.5280, W 120° 58.5360
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

We’re always looking for ways to inspire hiking during the winter months. With the New Year upon us, we wanted to find a hike that any family to could take on New Years Day to start 2013 off right. With that in mind, we decided to head out over Snoqualmie Pass to take a winter walk down the Coal Mines Trail.

In 1884, the rapidly expanding Northern Pacific Railroad began laying track toward Stampede Pass, in an effort to finally connect the Puget Sound to the Midwest. The previous year, the company’s engineers had located rich coal deposits near the railroad’s planned route and wasted no time in setting up a means to extract the substance that was fueling their locomotives. By 1886 the Northern Pacific Coal Company’s settlement around the coal mines was platted as Roslyn, named by the railroad’s vice president, Logan Bullitt, after a city in New York associated with his girlfriend. Nearby, the town of Ronald also sprang up, named after Alexander Ronald, the superintendent of the coal company. A spur track was quickly built from Ronald through Rosyln to Cle Elum, where the coal could be loaded onto trains and shipped where it was needed. In 1987, the tracks were removed and in 1994 Coal Mines Trail was created following the old railroad grade.

The mines along the Coal Mines Trail operated for 77 years before the last one closed down in 1963. During that time the population of the area mushroomed as miners from many different groups came to work the mines. As they arrived, miners found others that spoke their language and shared their culture, creating small ethnic communities all along the rail route. That tradition had some interesting side effects such as the Rosyln cemetery, which consists of 5,000 graves divided between 25 different religious and ethnic cemeteries. Some of those graves are a product of Washington State’s worst mining disaster in 1892, when 45 miners perished after an explosion in the lower levels Roslyn’s No. 1 mine.

The trail begins directly from the street, passing the tree-lined backyards of current neighbors. Wide and flat, the trail can handle bikes and strollers in warmer months and snowmobiles and cross-country skiers when it snows. Houses quickly yield to more trees, cottonwoods and maples at first, followed by pines and firs further down the trail. With no elevation to slow you down, you’ll quickly glide past interpretive signs marking long-gone settlements such as Happy Hallow and Ducktown, as well as mine and building locations.

At just over a mile pass what remains of a coal washer that used waters from Crystal Creek to separate the coal from less useful substances. A quick climb up the hill reveals your first glimpse of the neatly sculpted hills made of slag and tailings from the mines. Miners dumped everything they brought up out of the ground in massive piles near the mines, some of which rise right next to the trail. At two miles a spur line leads out to the No.9 and No. 10 mines, where the curious can do some exploring and find the sealed mine entrances and the cement foundations of surrounding buildings.

Continue to follow the trail for another mile to find the site of the No. 1 mine and other buildings on the outskirts of Roslyn. From here, the trail takes you though the town, past a number of former mining offices and stores, and onward toward Ronald. The last mine on the route is the No. 3 mine, which has plenty of artifacts and crumbling foundations to explore.

While the Coal Mines Trail is not exactly a hike, it allows absolutely anyone to wander through the area’s coal mining past. Easily accessible and walkable year-round this trail should be on your list of alternatives when you need to entertain your non-hiking friends and family. During the fall months, the changing leaves attract even more folks to this popular walk. Try starting off your year with something a little different, and give the Coal Mines Trail a visit.

To get there, take I-90 to Exit 84 to Cle Elum, merging onto 1st Street. Continue for a mile to Stratford Street. Take a left and find the signed trailhead on the corner of Stratford and 2nd Street. Parking spots are available in front of Flag Pole Park, which includes a large map of the historical highlights along the trail. If you’re looking for more detailed information, free Coal Mine Trail pamphlets are available at the Cle Elum Chamber of Commerce located just across the street on 1st Street. -Nathan

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Surprise and Glacier Lakes Trail #1060

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:30:33 PDT

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Our Hiking Time: 5h 30m
Total Ascent: 2700ft
Highest Point: 4900ft
Total Distance: 9.5 miles
Location: N 47° 39.4980, W 121° 8.5020
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

Over the years we’ve had a number of folks pointing us toward Surprise Lake for both summer and winter hiking. A few weeks ago we decided it was time to see if the hike could live up to the all the good reviews. Enough snow had fallen around Stevens Pass that we packed up our snowshoes and set out on what we thought might be our first snowshoe of the season.

Surprise Lake is one of a two glacier-fed lakes tucked into a narrow valley between Spark Plug Mountain and Thunder Mountain. The lake is in a depression, and was named for the “surprise” that comes with finally reaching the lake after cresting the small ridge that surrounds it. Along with nearby Glacier Lake, the duo is collectively known as Scenic Lakes, named not just for their scenic beauty, but also the nearby community of Scenic.

Back in the late 1880s when the Great Northern Railway was working on connecting Seattle to the rest of the Midwest, railroad workers enjoyed the natural hot springs found near the tracks. One of the first railroad stops on the west side of Stevens Pass was called Madison, but that name was quickly changed to Scenic when a hotel was built in 1904 to take advantage of the hot springs. The Scenic Hot Springs Hotel lasted until 1908 when it caught fire and burned to the ground. The owners were undaunted and the hotel was rebuilt the next year and became nationally famous for its baths. A small settlement sprung up around the hot springs, becoming Washington’s highest elevation community west of the Cascades. The hotel was demolished in the 1928 as part of the construction of the Cascade Tunnel.

The trail begins along a service road running beneath a set of massive powerlines. The road quickly transitions into shaded trail and within a half-mile or so the route passes into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Almost immediately you are greeted by expansive stairs, wooden boardwalks and bridgework. Large portions of the lower trail are comprised of this boardwalk, the product of hundreds of hours of trail work. Climb your way past giant cedars and massive hemlocks as you cross creeks and pass the occasional waterfall. In about a mile reach Surprise Creek, currently spanned by a single log. Use caution crossing during the winter, where it could be easy to slip into the fast-flowing creek.

Beyond the creek, the trail continues its fairly mild climb up the valley for another mile. At this point the trail becomes more serious, climbing nearly 1000ft in a series of tight switchbacks. The switchbacks eventually begin to level out as the canopy gives way to wider expanses and your first glimpses of Thunder Mountain. As you near the lake, drop down to cross over Surprise Creek again before climbing up to the rocky shores of Surprise Lake nestled beneath the shoulders of Spark Plug Mountain.

Find a spot to settle down for a snack, or continue onward to Glacier Lake, crossing over the Pacific Crest Trail along the way. The trail winds up through trees that refuse to give up really big views of the nearby peaks before dropping down to Glacier Lake. Tucked in a bowl at the feet of Surprise Mountain and Spark Plug Mountain, boulder-lined Glacier Lake offers pristine views and more than one campsite for those looking to stay a little while. Still yearning for some more trail time? Head back to Surprise Lake and take the signed spur trail up to Trap Pass for some incredible views.

We recommend this hike for anyone looking for an engaging hike throughout the year. It is a little long for more causal hikers, and the elevation gain is not insignificant, but most of the work is a short series of switchbacks at around the three mile mark. However, if you budget enough time, this hike should be attainable for almost every hiker. The lakes are more than worth the effort, and the hike even makes for a decent little backpacking weekend. While Surprise Lake is popular in the summer, few people make the trek in the winter, making this a good time to do some exploring and get the lakes all to yourself.

To get there, take Highway 2 out past Skykomish toward Stevens Pass. Just past milepost 58, look for an unmarked road on your right just beyond the Iron Goat Interpretive Site. Turn onto the access road and follow it across the Tye River to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and head to the right paralleling the tracks for a short distance to a spur road heading into the trees. Follow this road a few tenths of a mile to the trailhead. -Nathan

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Easton Ridge Trail #1212

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 14:45:46 PST

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Our Hiking Time: 4h
Total Ascent: 2200ft
Highest Point: 4500ft
Total Distance: 6.5 miles
Location: N 47° 14.9040, W 121° 8.3640
Required Permit: None.
Difficulty: Moderate

A few months ago before the grey of autumn brought along chilly winds and endless rain, we found some time to head out over Snoqualmie Pass to tackle Easton Ridge. Much like nearby Kachess Ridge, the hike promised an exposed ridgeline with broad views of nearby peaks and lakes. Easton Ridge not only delivered the views, but also surprised us with abundant fields of wildflowers.

Easton Ridge is named after the nearby town of Easton, located just below the ridge to the southwest. Settled in 1886, Easton was platted in 1902, and served as an important railroad stop along the Northern Pacific Railway. It was named for its proximity to the east end of the Stampede Tunnel -- the long-gone railroad town of Weston once served the other side of the tunnel. By the 1930s, airplanes were also flying over Snoqualmie Pass, following a string of beacons like the one on Kachess Ridge. During this time an airstrip was constructed by the federal government as an emergency landing field for military transports. You can pick out the long green rectangle that is the Easton Airport from the trail, still used today for those able to land on its unpaved, grassy surface. In 1934, a fire tower was constructed on Easton Ridge to help guard the town against unexpected forest fires. It was probably around this time that the beginnings of the Easton Ridge trail were blazed, once stretching from one end of the ridge to the other. But the fire tower was destroyed in 1948, and the trail began to fade. Today, while the trail to the top is fairly clear, only faint sections beyond the top remain, leading down the ridge to the trail’s eastern end.

The Easton Ridge Trail #1212 begins from the same small trailhead as the Kachess Ridge Trail. However, the Easton Ridge Trail is a little trickier to find. From the Kachess Ridge junction, head toward Silver Creek and drop down to the water to find a sturdy bridge crossing the creek near an old wooden dam. From here the trail beings a series of tight switchbacks straight up the mountainside, climbing roughly 1200’ feet in the first mile or so. Emerge from the young forest just beyond the junction to the Domerie Divide Trail #1308.2 and catch some of early glimpses of Little Kachess Lake and Easton below.

Continue upwards following the ridgeline, ignoring any tempting side trails that might lead you astray. Pass through grassy meadows that burst with a variety of wildflowers in the spring. As you near the first of many rocky outcroppings, the trail becomes more difficult to follow, fading and all but disappearing entirely in spots. Continue onward and upward until you reach the highpoint. Find a comfortable section of rock and take in 360-degree views that include Mt. Rainier, Mt. Stuart and nearby Domerie Peak and Mount Baldy. Still looking for more trail time? You can continue down the ridge attempting to follow what remains of the old trail, or you can double back to the Domerie Divide Trail and do some further exploring.

Easton Ridge works well for an early season hike. At a lower elevation and located east of Snoqualmie Pass, it tends to melt out quickly. And while more folks are discovering the hikes near Easton, they do not get nearly as much traffic as other I-90 hikes leaving you to enjoy the big views without a lot of company. Although there is a bit of elevation gain, but most hikers should be able to tackle Easton Ridge, making it a great alternative on a sunny weekend. We recommend you tackle this hike in late June or July when the wildflowers will be at their height.

To get there, take I-90 to Exit 70. Take a left over the freeway and turn left onto West Sparks Road. Continue for a half-mile to FR 4818 (signed Kachess Dam Road) and take a right. Follow FR 4818 for a mile to an unmarked road on the right. Follow this road for a half-mile to the small parking area at the trailhead. -Nathan

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Marten Creek Trail #713

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:22:24 PST

Our Hiking Time: 4h 45m
Total Ascent: 1400ft
Highest Point: 2800ft
Total Distance: 7.0 miles
Location: N 48° 6.2640, W 121° 37.3320
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Hard (Overgrown after 2.0 miles)

A few weeks ago we headed back out the Mountain Loop Highway to the Marten Creek Trail #713, an all-but-forgotten mining road that once connected Silverton with Darrington over Granite Pass. We expected to find a trail leading out to an old mine, but instead we were confronted with a bit more route-finding and bushwhacking than we anticipated.

Much like nearby Monte Cristo, mining along Marten Creek boomed around the turn of the last century. At its height, dozens of claims were being worked to pull gold and copper out of the creek basin. In 1897, an Everett & Monte Cristo Railway locomotive sparked a major forest fire that consumed most of the trees on Long Mountain. Perhaps because the fire cleared so much land, the Forest Service chose Marten Creek as a location for one of the first experimental forests. Beginning in 1912, Douglas fir seedlings from different locations and elevations throughout Washington and Oregon where raised in nurseries. In 1915 and 1916, the young trees were transferred to the mountainside above Marten Creek, along with signs indicating where they were from and what elevation they came from, many of which are still present. The experiment was aimed at identifying and predicting different diseases that affect Douglas firs. The investigation has continued to this day, making Marten Creek the oldest experimental forest in the Northwest.

Mining continued into the 1940s, when a rough road was blazed out to some of the more productive mines. Today’s trail follows the remnants of this road. However, by the 1980s the mining dropped off. In 1984 Congress designated the Boulder River Wilderness, protecting the only remaining virgin forest in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Today the Wilderness covers nearly 50,000 acres and is dominated by Three Fingers Mountain that rises from the center of the protected area. Despite its size, there are only about 25 miles of trail through the Wilderness, leaving the vast majority of the area wild and untouched.

The trail begins directly off the Mountain Loop Highway along Marten Creek. The first mile or so follows the now abandoned roadbed up through a maturing forest Douglas fir, cedar and hemlock. The roadbed is occasionally rocky, but is wide and generally free of blowdowns. Almost immediately the route crosses into the Boulder River Wilderness and begins switchbacking up the mountainside, carrying you past the experimental forest before swinging away from the highway and pushing deeper into the creek basin. The road wastes little time climbing steeply 1000ft up through dense forest before leveling off and becoming a true trail. From here the trail crosses through a number of talus fields that offer views of the surrounding peaks, including Anaconda Peak, Three Fingers, Bald Mountain and Long Mountain.

Unfortunately, because of current trail conditions, most hikers will not be able to catch a glimpse of Three Fingers, even on a good day. At about the two mile mark the trail becomes increasingly difficult to navigate; blowdowns and washouts become more frequent, and the trail occasionally disappears. We highly recommend you bring along a GPS and be comfortable with some bushwhacking and route-finding if you are planning on continuing past this point. If not, the first open views of Anaconda Peak and the Marten Creek Valley is probably a good place to settle in for a snack before calling it a day. However, if you want a few more views and a look at an abandoned mine, push on another half-mile to Marten Creek, which can be difficult to cross when the water is running high. Once across, follow the faint indication of the roadbed for a little less than a mile to the mine. Again, reaching the mine is not easy, and you should not attempt it without a map or GPS.

If you’re looking for a training hike or a quiet snowshoe without a lot of company, the Marten Creek trail is an excellent choice. Although there is not much in the way of a destination, the first two miles of this trail offer forested trails, a roaring creek, some views and more than a little history. Much beyond this point most folks are unlikely to enjoy the hike, at least until the trail gets some serious trail maintenance. Because of this, we recommend you save this one for snowshoe season, as it makes a great alternative to the more popular routes along the Mountain Loop Highway.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Follow the MLH for about 20 miles to the bridge over Marten Creek, just past the Marten Creek Campground. The signed trailhead is on the east side of the creek. There is no parking lot, find parking along the shoulder. -Nathan

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Colquhoun Peak Trail #1195

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:57:07 PST

Our Hiking Time: 30m
Total Ascent: 600ft (900ft from FR7036)
Highest Point: 5200ft
Total Distance: 1.0 mile (2.0 miles from FR7036)
Location: N 47° 7.7520, W 121° 27.6720
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

Last week we decided to do a little exploring in the forests that surround Greenwater out along Highway 410. We had a couple of different trails and destinations we wanted to check out, including a return trip to Colquhoun Peak for a snow-free trek up the site of a former fire lookout. As we knew from our previous visit, this short hike offers some excellent views of Mt. Rainier and the White River Valley.

Colquhoun Peak was named by the owner of a summer home near Greenwater. The owner’s son drowned in a lake near the peak, and it was named in his honor. It’s not clear whether it was named for the boy’s first name or last. Colquhoun is an unusual first name, though Scotland’s Colquhoun clan traces it lineage back hundreds of years. Either way, in the 1930s the Forest Service built a fire lookout here, similar to the cabin on nearby Kelley Butte. It served for a few decades before it was destroyed in 1958. Today all the remains of the lookout are a few cables, some bits of metal and shattered glass.

The half-mile trail begins at the end of a forest road, switchbacking steeply up through the forest to the ridgeline. The trail is rocky and narrow and wastes little time tackling the hike’s 600ft of elevation gain. Although the trees have grown to obscure some of the view at the summit, there are still long views over a sea of mountaintops including nearby Kelley Butte, Sawmill Ridge, Pyramid Peak and Mt. Rainer.

Although quite short, Colquhoun Peak makes a good addition to a day of hiking, delivering excellent views in a very little time. Combining a trip of Colquhoun Peak with a trek up Kelley Butte or Blowout Mountain can make for a decent day of hiking and exploring this area. While the trail is somewhat steep and a little rough, because it is only a half-mile, the trail should be approachable for almost any hiker. As an added bonus, this trail also does not see a lot of foot traffic, probably because it is a little tricky to find. So expect to savor Colquhoun Peak’s views without anyone else around.

One word of caution: the spur road to the trailhead is very narrow and is not wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Be careful if you chose to drive that half-mile to the trailhead, the road drops off steeply, and reversing down the rough road if you meet another car on your way up will be difficult. We recommend you park on the shoulder near the spur road and hike the road to the trail.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18 Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Turn left onto SR 410 and drive about 20 miles through the town of Greenwater, past the fire station to FR 70 on the left. Take a left and follow FR 70 for about eight-and-a-half miles to FR 7030. Take a left and continue about four miles to FR 7036. Take a right and continue half a mile to unmarked Road 7036-110 on your right. It is a narrow, rough road that requires a high clearance vehicle. Either park at the junction and hike the half-mile to the trailhead, or drive to the end of the road and park in at the small turnaround at the end of the road. -Nathan

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The 2013 Hiking with my Brother Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:12:11 PST

Almost every weekend for years, we have been trekking down hiking trails across Washington and reporting our experience on hikingwithmybrother.com. Now we've put together our 2nd annual calendar that draws on our all-season hiking experience. The Hiking with my Brother 2013 Calendar suggests a different hike every Saturday in 2013, each chosen with the season in mind. The calendar also showcases some of our best photography from the suggested hikes to inspire you to get out on the trail. Of course all the hike details, including directions, history, and photos can be found on hikingwithmybrother.com.

Check out the preview of the calendar below, and we hope you pick one up for you or a loved one this holiday season. Use Lulu.com promotional code NOVCALENDARS12 to get a 25% discount in the month of November! -Jer

Ashland Lakes Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 17:46:57 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 15m
Total Ascent: 800ft (500ft in; 300ft out)
Highest Point: 3000ft
Total Distance: 5.5 miles
Location: N 48° 1.6800, W 121° 43.7100
Required Permit: Discover Pass
Difficulty: Easy

A few months ago we headed out on the Mountain Loop Highway to explore the Ashland Lakes Trail and the Morning Star Natural Resource Conservation Area (NRCA), one of Washington’s 30 NRCAs managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Boasting lakes, marshes, mountaintops, and old growth forest, the area promised a little bit of everything and managed to deliver.

Ashland Lakes have attracted hikers and campers for years, but it wasn’t until the late 1980s that steps were taken to protect the area. Around 1989 the Mt. Pilchuck Natural Resource Conservation Area was formed, preserving 9606 acres of land ranging from the top of Mt Pilchuck down the to shores of Ashland Lakes. The ecologically diverse area included alpine meadows and stands of old growth roughly 300 years old. In 2007, the Mt. Pilchuck NRCA was combined with nearby Greider Ridge NRCA and Morning Star NRCA. Now collectively known as the Morning Start NRCA, this 26000-acre conservation area provides a home to threatened species as well as a wide array of recreational opportunities.

The trail begins by following a logging road through a young forest of recovering clear-cut. Mostly wide and flat, this first mile or so of trail breezes quickly past grassy marshes and over a small creek before leaving the road and plunging into old growth. The change is dramatic. The forest closes in and trees loom above you as you cross planks spanning creeks, puddles and bogs. Stroll through lush undergrowth and past moss-covered rocks. Find the junction to Beaver Plant Lake branching off this network of boardwalks and take the short side trip out to this little lake before returning to the trail. As you continue, you’ll pass the junction to the Mallardy Ridge Trail leading out to Bald Mountain – an adventure for another day. Push ahead to Upper Ashland Lake.

Hugging Upper Ashland’s lakeshore, boardwalks lead you around the lake. Pass the occasional wooden platform built to allow campers to pitch a tent with the hope of staying dry on the lake’s soggy shores. After you’ve gotten your fill of Upper Ashland Lake, continue down another half mile to Lower Ashland Lake. Slightly less traveled than the upper lake, this tree-lined lake is a little wilder and you are less likely to encounter other hikers here. Continue to the end of the lake to find a log bridge spanning Wilson Creek and beyond another platform that makes for a good stopping point. The trail continues another mile and a half to Twin Falls Lake, but recent storm damage has washed out the trail and the Department of Natural Resources has closed the trail until further notice.

The Ashland Lakes Trail has the right mix of distance, elevation and destinations to make it ideal for bringing younger hikers along. The elaborate system of bridges and boardwalks also make this a fun hike for both new and experienced hikers. However, the area does receive quite a lot of rain – over 100 inches annually – which means you can almost always expect a little mud and that boardwalks will be a little slippery. Still, each of the three lakes has their own personality and offer a great deal to see on this relatively short and easy hike.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Follow the MLH for nearly 16 miles to FR 4020, signed for multiple trailheads including the Ashland Lake Trail. Take a right and follow the gravel road about two-and-a-half miles to a junction. Head right on to FR 4021 and continue for a mile and a half to a junction with Spur 016, signed for Ashland Lakes. Head uphill and find the trailhead at the top. - Nathan

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Deception Creek Trail #1059

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:56:55 PST

Our Hiking Time: 4h
Total Ascent: 1100ft
Highest Point: 3000ft
Total Distance: 6.5 miles
Location: N 47° 40.5600, W 121° 10.8360
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Moderate

A few months ago, we ventured out along Highway 2 in search of a suitable hike for the day’s rainy weather. After consulting a few guidebooks, we settled on the Deception Creek Trail #1059, a hike that promised creeks, lakes, and the shelter of old growth forest.

There are quite a few geographical features in Washington that have earned the name “deception.” Usually, this is because the feature caused some sort of confusion upon discovery. Puget Sound’s Deception Pass, for example, was named by Capt. George Vancouver because it first appeared to be a narrow bay rather than a passageway. Our efforts to dig up the story behind the naming of Deception Creek and the Deception Lakes the creek drains came up empty, but we do know it has been called Deception Creek for quite some time. Back 1893 the last spike of the Great Northern Railway was driven at Deception Creek, connecting Seattle to St. Paul, Minnesota. You can learn more about the role the Great Northern Railway played at Stevens Pass by exploring the Iron Goat Trail.

The trail begins beneath the crackle of power lines, but soon plunges into a mature forest of fir, cedar and hemlock. Almost immediately you’ll cross into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and find yourself alongside Deception Creek. The first mile is fairly tame, climbing slowly but steadily up the valley. The somewhat narrow trail crosses over streams large and small, usually with a bridge or boardwalk to help you to the other side. Depending on the season, you may find that Deception Creek has spilled over onto the trail, and you may need to find creative ways of getting across.

After crossing the log bridge over Deception Creek, the trail steepens, pulling you up the mountainside high above the creek. Eventually the trail levels out and crosses over Sawyer Creek. At roughly three miles find a campsite well-suited for a break or a turn-around point for those looking for a shorter day. This was our stopping point, but you can continue on for another two miles to find the Tonga Ridge Trail #1058. For those looking to do some backpacking, the connecting trail to Deception Lakes #1059B is found at the seven mile mark and Deception Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail is beyond ten miles from the trailhead.

Surprisingly, the Deception Creek Trail does not get a lot of traffic. It’s among the least traveled trails in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, despite lush old growth and the fairly impressive cascades of Deception Creek. Beyond our stopping point the trail leaves the shelter of the forest and opens into sub-alpine meadows with views of the surrounding mountains. With fairly easy access to the trailhead and moderate elevation gain, this is a decent hike for almost anyone. We also recommend this area for your next backpacking trip, as you’re likely to get Deception Lakes all to yourself.

To get there, take Highway 2 out past Skykomish just beyond milepost 56, just past the Deception Falls Interpretive Site to FR 6088 also known as Deception Creek Road. The road is not well signed, and can be easy to miss. Take a right and follow FR 6088 under the railroad trestle for about a half-mile to the trailhead. -Nathan

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Monte Cristo Ghost Town

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:09:36 PDT

Our Hiking Time: 4h 15m
Total Ascent: 600ft
Highest Point: 2900ft
Total Distance: 9.5 miles
Location: N 47° 59.1180, W 121° 23.5620
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

As Halloween approaches, a lot of folks start thinking about ghosts, goblins and haunted houses. While we’ve yet to find a hike out to a haunted house, we do occasionally get the chance to visit a ghost town. Recently we trekked out to Monte Cristo, one of Washington’s most famous ghost towns and the site of the state’s biggest gold rush.

In 1889 an prospector named Joe L. Pearsall was living in Mineral City looking to strike it rich. As the snows receded, he climbed nearby Hubbart Peak to survey the area, and saw something metallic shining in the afternoon sun. Pearsall gathered a few samples and had his partner Frank Peabody take them to Seattle for analysis. Testing indicated silver and gold. On July 4, 1889, Pearsall and Peabody staked the first claim in the area, calling it the Independence of 1776 in honor of the holiday. Today it’s referred to as ’76 Gulch.

News traveled quickly. Claims multiplied and dozens of mines were opened. Peabody is credited with commenting that the minerals in the area would make them “as rich as the Count of Monte Cristo” and so the burgeoning town took up the name, hoping to attract more investors to help finance the operation. The Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad was built in 1893 to transport ore to smelters in Everett, and made the town more accessible to the outside world. The scale of the mining operations increased exponentially, and soon a complex system of cable-bucket aerial tramways was built, allowing miners to send 230 tons of ore swinging down steep mountainsides every day for processing in Monte Cristo’s concentrators.

By 1907, over 300,000 tons of copper, gold, silver and zinc were pulled out of the mines, worth millions of dollars. But the cost of operating the mines and keeping the railroad running was digging into profits and many of the miners had moved on to find their fortunes in Alaska. A market collapse in 1907 put an end to mining in Monte Cristo, and attempts to revive the industry failed. In 1936 the railroad, which had long suffered washouts from seasonal flooding, was removed and Monte Cristo became something of a ghost town.

Still, attempts were made to attract tourists, using the old Royal Hotel and other remaining structures. After World War II, interest picked up and Monte Cristo saw hundreds of visitors on summer weekends, all driving down a county road built on the old railroad bed. In 1980 a flood washed out the bridge over the South Fork Sauk River and it was never repaired. The lodge burned down in 1983 and the U.S. Forest Service gained control of most of Monte Cristo in 1994. Today, the Monte Cristo Preservation Society helps to maintain and highlight the history of the former mining town. The area also serves as a gateway to number of trails in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness.

The hike begins at Barlow Pass, following the same railroad grade that has been in use since 1893. Flat and wide, the graveled road is an easy stroll along the South Fork Sauk River. Occasional openings in the trees reveal glimpses of the rocky prominences guarding the top of the valley: Cadet Peak, Toad Mountain, and Silvertip Mountain. After about a mile, you’ll reach the washed out bridge and the junction with the Weden Creek Trail #724 leading up to Gothic Basin. A 2006 flood further eroded the trail here, forcing you to take a narrow path through the trees to a large log spanning the river. During the summer months the river is low enough that it is easy to wade across. Many chose to brave the log crossing – use caution if you attempt this route as the log could be slippery.

Once across the river and back on the road, it’s another three miles to the town site. Along the way you might be able to pick out Twin Peaks or Monte Cristo Peak up ahead, and Lewis Peak and Del Campo Peak make appearances to the west. At four miles, reach the Monte Cristo Campground, and just beyond the bridge over Glacier Creek leading into the townsite. Once you arrive, take some time to explore the few remaining structures still standing and pick through the rusting artifacts from the mining days. Be sure to wander down Dumas street – named for Alexander Dumas, the author of the Count of Monte Cristo – to get an idea of how the town was laid out. Bring a healthy amount of imagination, as most of the town is long gone, leaving only signs to mark the former location of buildings.

This is a decent hike that should be approachable for almost anyone, especially those interested in a little history. To get the most out of your visit, we recommend you stop at the Verlot Ranger Station on your way out to Barlow Pass to pick up a pamphlet that includes a map of Monte Cristo and explanations of the various marked sites in the town. After you are done touring the town you may be looking to do a little more hiking. If that’s the case you can continue up to Glacier Falls and Glacier Basin. Or you can retrace the pre-railroad approach to Monte Cristo with hike up to Poodle Dog Pass #708, named in honor of Frank Peabody’s dog, which he evidently took with him when he climbed the pass on his way to Monte Cristo from Mineral City.

This hike’s only challenge is the river crossing, but that may soon be changing. A new access road will be on the other side of the river, connecting with the current road after the washout. The road is being built to support a massive cleanup effort focusing on containing the arsenic and other heavy metals churned up by Monte Cristo’s mining past. The cleanup will begin in spring of 2013 lasting to the summer of 2015, during that time the plan is to close the townsite. How the new road will be used after the cleanup is still undecided. Luckily, even though a little snow has fallen, you still have some weekends left to visit Monte Cristo before it’s shuttered until 2015.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Take the MLH for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Park and find the gated Monte Cristo Road on the right side of the road, opposite the trailhead parking lot. -Nathan

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Snoqualmie Tunnel via The Iron Horse Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:55:54 PST

Our Hiking Time: 2h 30m
Total Ascent: 0ft
Highest Point: 2500ft
Total Distance: 5 miles
Location: W 47° 23' 23.6820, N 121° 23.7540
Required Permit: Discover Pass
Difficulty: Easy

With Halloween just around the corner, we wanted to find something a little spooky for our hike this week. After considering a few ghost towns and mines, we settled on a restored railroad tunnel that offers a slightly unnerving 11,890ft walk under Snoqualmie Pass in near total darkness. Complete with dripping walls, echoing voices, misty air and a chilly breeze, this short trek through a piece of railroading history makes for the perfect Halloween hike.

Back around the turn of the last century, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad finally connected Seattle to the rest of its eastern lines. They were a little behind their competition, as the Great Northern Railway had completed this feat over a decade earlier. Like Great Northern, the Milwaukee folks underestimated the Cascade snows and began operation without a tunnel, building the Laconia Station at Snoqualmie Pass to help keep the trains running through the winter. It only took a few years of heavy snow to convince the railroad to accelerate its plans to build a tunnel.

Early surveys began in 1908, and some initial construction preparation was started in 1911, but not until after the particularly nasty winter of 1912-13 did construction begin in earnest. In roughly 15 months, around 2,500 “tunnel stiffs” bored into the mountain from either end of the tunnel, burning through 340 tons of dynamite and removing 180,000 cubic yards of rock. They met on August 5, 1914 and the first passenger came through Tunnel 50 on January 24, 1915. In 1917 the tunnel was connected to the lines that powered the railroad's hybrid electric-steam engines in order to deal with ventilation problems, and the large wooden housing for the electrical boxes still line the tunnel today.

Times change and over the years traveling to the ski slopes by rail slowly gave way to private automobiles. The railroad declined and the last Milwaukee train passed through the tunnel on March 15, 1980. The railroad abandoned its land and the tunnel was closed. Ownership passed to Washington State, and for the next 15 years, tracks were removed and the Iron Horse State Park slowly began to take shape, but without the Snoqualmie Tunnel, the park remained divided. Then, on September 24, 1994 old Tunnel 50 was re-opened, creating an unbroken trail that now stretches 110 miles across the state. The tunnel was again closed on January 30, 2009 for renovations including adding another 4-inch layer of concrete on the walls and ceiling. It reopened July 5, 2011.

From the trailhead walk the gravel path the short distance to the tunnel entrance. The wide, graveled railroad grade is flat and easy for large groups and bikers to share the trail. At the entrance note the wooden doors used to seal the tunnel between trains during the winter months. In the past these were used to minimize the ice that would form in the tunnel. For the same reason, the tunnel closes every year from November 1 to May 1, to prevent ice-related injuries. As we mentioned, the tunnel is a chilly and dark, so put on your jacket and headlamp before you plunge into the darkness.

The faint pinpoint of light ahead is the other end of the tunnel, and you’ll spend the next hour or so watching it get bigger and brighter. Once you emerge from the tunnel, be sure to linger and take in the decent views of nearby Granite Mountain, Denny Mountain, Bandera Mountain and McCellan Butte. As you turn around, take note of the second arched entrance that many say was made in preparation for a parallel tunnel that was never built. Because of the slight curve at the beginning of the tunnel, you will not have the light at the end of the tunnel to guide you for most of the way, making the return trip a little spookier.

This is a great hike for the whole family around this time of the year. There’s no elevation gain, the trail is wide enough for everyone to share, and a tunnel is a decent option on a rainy autumn day. If you’re looking to minimize the number of folks you share the trail with, we recommend you head out to the tunnel earlier in the day, as it can become crowded later. Remember to bring a strong flashlight or headlamp and enough layers to keep you warm. The tunnel closes the day after Halloween, so plan to give Snoqualmie Tunnel a visit before it closes for the next six months.

To get there, take I-90 to exit #54 and head right. Almost immediately take a left onto State Route 906, following the signs to Snoqualmie Tunnel. In about a half-mile, take a right just before the Highway Maintenance area. In a few hundred feet turn right into the trailhead parking lot. -Nathan

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Tubal Cain Mine and Tull Canyon Trails

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:31:30 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 45m
Total Ascent: 1600ft
Highest Point: 4600ft
Total Distance: 8.5 miles
Location: N 47° 51.1680, W 123° 5.7780
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

A few months ago we headed across the water to the Olympic Peninsula to take on a hike that promised lakes, mines, creeks, and the wreckage of a B-17. The Tubal Cain Mine Trail snakes through the Buckhorn Wilderness, tracing the route miners took back in the early 1900s to reach their mining camps.

Back in 1903, miners led by Victor Tull consolidated their mining claims to form the Tubal Cain Copper and Manganese Mining Company. Named after Tubal-Cain, a biblical blacksmith that worked bronze and iron, the company had high hopes of extracting vast wealth from the depths of Iron Mountain. Unfortunately, between nearly non-existent yields and the high cost of accessing the remote area, the company struggled. Two small camps were established to support the mining activities, and the foundations and rusting metal left behind by Copper City and Tull City can still be found today. Despite digging nearly 1,500ft into the mountain, the mine was never able to turn a profit. In 1912, an avalanche destroyed the heart of the operation and the mines were abandoned by 1920.

For the next 30 years, the area remained quiet. Then, on January 19th, 1952 a modified B-17 returning from a search-and-rescue mission off the coast of British Columbia became disoriented in a blizzard and crashed into the ridgeline above Tull Canyon. The plane slid 2,000ft down the steep mountain, scattering parts across a massive debris field. Somehow, five members of the eight-man crew survived and were rescued the next day by another team from their own unit. Now, even 60 years later, the wreck lingers – parts of massive wheels, large chucks of wing, and pieces of the B-17’s four engines are easy to find.

The Tubal Cain Mine Trail begins in a young forest of fir, hemlock and rhododendron. Wide and flat, the trail gently guides you past the Silver Creek shelter and over a log bridge spanning the creek. Soon the trail climbs up into Copper Creek Canyon and the Buckhorn Wilderness, before flattening out along the slopes above Copper Creek. After about three miles of smooth trail, you’ll reach the Tull Canyon Trail and an exploratory adit dug by the mining companies. The tunnel only goes back 50ft or so, though we don’t recommend you do any exploring.

From here, head upwards along the Tull Canyon Trail for about a mile to find the remnants of the B-17 and the leavings of Tull City. The trail is a sharp contrast to the Tubal Cain Mine trail; steep, rocky and narrow. Climb for a little less than a mile to the site of the wreckage, scattered amongst the trees, ponds, and creeks. Linger here, or continue along the trail to the meadows at the far end of the canyon where Tull City once stood. When you’re done exploring, retrace your steps back to the Tubal Cain Mine Trail and continue onward toward the mine.

Before long you’ll pass by the few rusting remains of Copper City and should see a large slope of tailings from the Tubal Cain Mine on the left side of the trail. A short climb up the mountainside leads to the mine and the creek that spills out from its depths. If you’re looking to add some more mileage, you can return to the trail and press on for another two miles to a short trail leading down to Buckhorn Lake or continue further to climb up to Buckhorn Pass for decent views of the surrounding Buckhorn Wilderness.

This hike has a little bit of everything, from lakes and creeks to canyons and mountain passes. With multiple destinations along the trail, you can tailor this hike depending on your time and company. The trail to the mine is a good choice for a late season hike and should be approachable for almost every hiker. And while Tull Canyon Trail is more challenging, the promise of plane wreckage provides ample motivation. The trek out to Buckhorn Pass is for those folks looking to put in a ten or eleven mile day. Whatever you’re looking to do, find some time to head out to the Olympics to explore the Buckhorn Wilderness along the Tubal Mine Trail soon.

To get there, take the Bainbridge Island Ferry, following State Route 305 through Poulsbo to State Route 3. Follow SR 3 to the Hood Canal Bridge, taking a left over the bridge onto State Route 104. Follow SR 104 as it merges onto US 101 and continue another 18 miles and turn left onto Palo Alto Road. Continue about eight miles to Road #2880. Veer right and steeply descend down to the Dungeness River, past Dungeness Forks Campground. In about two miles head left on Road #2870 and continue about 11 miles to the Tubal Cain Mine Trailhead. -Nathan

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Hibox Mountain via Rachel Lake Trail #1313

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:54:34 PST

Our Hiking Time: 8h
Total Ascent: 3800ft
Highest Point: 6547ft
Total Distance: 7 miles
Location: N 47° 25.9020, W 121° 18.0360
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Hard

Not long ago, we had the chance to return to the Rachel Lake and Box Canyon aiming to climb Hibox, a prominence along Box Ridge’s rocky spine. We really enjoyed our hike up Alta Mountain a few years ago, and hoped Hibox would be a similar experience. As it turned out, Hibox Mountain is a little more challenging than Alta Mountain, but the views are at least as good, if not better.

Back before Washington was a state, it was part of the Oregon Territory, and settlers carved out their lands on either side of the Washington Cascades. By 1853, Washington’s population had grown to the point that it was re-organized as a separate government known as the Washington Territory. Almost immediately, the new government began to tackle the need to connect the eastern and western portions of the territory. Surveyors and explorers set about finding suitable passage through the Cascades, eventually finding many routes, including Snoqualmie Pass. Box Canyon was explored during this time, and was named for the way Rampart Ridge and Keechlus Ridge “box” you in as you try and cross the Cascades. Hibox (sometimes called High Box) is the highpoint on Box Ridge, and was named by forest officers.

The hike beings at the Rachel Lake Trailhead #1313, following Box Canyon Creek through small stands of pine and lush slide zones filled with bracken fern and salmonberry. The trail here is relatively flat, with only small ups and downs and an occasional log to hop over. The creek also provides a couple of open areas that make for great rest stops on your return trip. Keep an eye out for the rocky finger of Hibox on the ridge. Your first glimpse will be in a large slide area and again at a second clearing at a little over 2 miles. Just after you cross the second clearing, look in the trees for an unmarked but obvious trail heading toward the mountain.

From here, there is only one direction: up. Switchback up the shoulders of the ridge, following a rough and narrow trail through the trees toward the summit block. Eventually, the trees recede, replaced by talus and scree veering to the right, under the cliffs that make up the mountaintop. Some sections of the trail are loose rock here, so tread carefully as you climb up to the ridgeline.

Your last challenge is the short scramble to the top where 360-degree views await. From those heights you can easily pick out nearby Alta Mountain, Three Queens and the Park Lakes to the north. Beyond you can see Chikamin Peak, Lemah Mountain, Chimney Rock and Summit Chief Mountain. On a good day you’ll be able to pick out Glacier Peak. As you turn east you’ll see Mt. Hinman, Mt. Daniel and Mt. Stuart. To the south is Rampart Ridge and Mt. Rainier. Keep turning west to pick out Mt. Thompson out from among the Snoqualmie Peaks. Settle in to see how many more peaks you can count.

Climbing up to Hibox will be a challenge for some hikers and we don’t recommend it for everyone. Once you leave the Rachel Lake Trail, the trail is steep, rough, and is easy to lose in the talus fields. On the upside, you can also expect to leave most hikers to Rachel Lake and Alta Mountain, as the route does not get a lot of traffic. This hike can be great alternative, as long as you’re comfortable with a little route finding and a small amount of scrambling. If you’ve already explored Rampart Ridge and are hungry for a little more, Hibox might be the prefect fit.

To get there, take I-90 to Exit 62. Turn north and drive five miles to the Lake Kachess campground, then turn left onto Box Canyon Road #4930. Continue for four miles to the large trailhead parking area. –Nathan

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Gothic Basin via Weden Creek Trail #724

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:54:54 PST

Our Hiking Time: 7h
Total Ascent: 3700ft
Highest Point: 6000ft
Total Distance: 10.5 miles
Location: N 47° 58.9980, W 121° 27.9240
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Hard

Last week we headed out to Barlow Pass and the Monte Cristo trail to explore Gothic Basin, a popular area filled with ice-carved lakes and rocky cliffs. Everything we’d seen and heard about this hike promised a beautiful lunar landscape with big views, meadows and alpine lakes and Gothic Basin did not disappoint.

After gold was discovered in Monte Cristo in 1889, initial efforts to extract minerals from the area were fairly small-scale. Bigger mining syndicates began arriving a few years later, starting in the areas around Del Campo Peak. In 1896, the Del Campo Mining Company began pulling gold, silver and copper out of the area, and that same year, Gothic Peak was named in honor of William Gothic, one of the first prospectors to stake a claim in Gothic Basin. Mining operations continued to expand after the turn of the century, and eventually an elaborate air tramway was constructed to transport ore from Gothic Basin down to the Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad along 7,000ft of cable.

Although prominently signed “Weden,” the creek the trail follows was named for prospector and settler Otis N. Weeden. Thus, the creek and lake that are often labeled “Weden” should actually be Weeden. It is unclear how the creek lost an “e,” though it may have been an intentional effort to remove the reference to Weeden because of his later crimes. On March 30, 1911, Weeden shot three of his neighbors before taking his own life in what was called the Sauk Prairie Massacre. The shootings were the result of a dispute over a small creek that all of the neighbors used for irrigation.

The Weeden Creek Trail #724 begins along the Monte Cristo Road, the former Everett and Monte Cristo Railroad grade. Flat and wide, the grade quickly covers the mile to the trail junction. Once on the path toward Gothic basin, the trail soon narrows and becomes more challenging. The miners and prospectors that cut this trail were interested in getting to their mines as quickly as possible, and the trail wastes little time before tackling the elevation. After a long series of switchbacks through a young forest, the sheltering trees are traded for open views of the river valley and cliffs of exposed rock. As you traverse the mountainside, the trail crosses a number of creeks and waterfalls. The largest is known as King Kong’s Showerbath, which makes for a great spot to take a break to cool off in the summer.

Continue to push up into the basin, where the trees almost completely recede and vast expanses of rock dominate the landscape. As you explore the basin, the trail splits. The short trail to the left descends down to an unnamed lakelet and views down onto Weeden Lake. Head right to continue deeper into Gothic Basin and toward Foggy Lake. There is still some elevation to tackle, pressing up rocky gullies to arrive at the lakeshore. Almost always frozen, Foggy Lake sits beneath the three-pronged Gothic Peak and Del Campo Peak. Clamber around the rocks and find a quiet spot to relax and enjoy the lake.

If you’re up for a little more work, we recommend continuing up the shoulders of Del Campo Peak. Follow the faint trail around the east shore of the lake and soon find yourself next to a small tarn known as Tin Cup Lake. Push up the rough trail to the boulder field at the base of the summit. From here the views are spectacular. A sea of mountaintops spreads out before you. Pick out nearby Sheep Gap Mountain, Silver Tip Peak, Gothic Peak and Crested Butte. The rest of the way up to the summit of Del Campo is somewhat technical, so make sure you’ve got the right experience and gear before attempting a scramble to the top.

This is a challenging hike that is not for everyone, but Gothic Basin is well worth the effort. The area is simply stunning. In the few weeks that Foggy Lake is melted out each year, its icy waters exude a gorgeous deep blue color. There are also a number of truly amazing campsites that offer privacy and choice views. We highly recommend this hike to anyone that is comfortable with the elevation gain along a moderately rough trail. Make sure to do a little research on the conditions in the basin before you go, as the experience is better if the area is melted out.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Take the MLH for 31 miles to Barlow Pass. Park and find the gated Monte Cristo Road on the right side of the road, opposite the trailhead parking lot.

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Tonga Ridge Trail #1058 to Mount Sawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:54:47 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 30m
Total Ascent: 1200ft
Highest Point: 5480ft
Total Distance: 5.5 miles
Location: N 47° 40.0080, W 121° 13.4700
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Moderate

We recently had a chance check out Tonga Ridge, one of the most popular ridge hikes along Highway 2. With long views and a gentle grade, it’s easy to see why Tonga Ridge attracts so many hikers, and now that we near the end of summer, the trail is likely to see more traffic than usual as huckleberry pickers flock to the slopes of Mt. Sawyer to harvest this year’s crop.

Back around the turn of the last century, mining and timber interests were pulling trees and ore out of the valleys near Skykomish at breakneck speed. Forest fires were among the biggest threats to these industries, as fires would destroy resources, camps, and cut off access to the outside world. The Forest Service responded by building fire lookouts throughout the region in an attempt to find and contain fires before they spread out of control. In the Skykomish Ranger Distinct, there were numerous lookouts including a fire lookout camp on Tonga Ridge throughout the 1920s, likely in response to a fire that seared the trees off Mt. Sawyer in 1914. A ranger named George Sawyer spent his life in the forests of the Skykomish District helping keep watch for those fires, and after his death in 1930, Mt. Sawyer was named in honor of his service.

The Tonga Ridge Trail #1058 begins from the end of Forest Road 6830, gently rolling through a young forest of fir and hemlock. The trail is well-maintained and largely free of rocks and roots and after a short climb begins to open up and offer glimpses of the Foss River and Burn Creek valleys. As you enter the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the trees thin and bracken fern and blue huckleberry begin to crowd the trail. During the spring, wildflowers brighten the trailside, and during the late summer and early fall, the huckleberries ripen and tempt both hikers and wildlife.

The trail continues to amble through meadows and stands of evergreen, gliding over the ups and downs of the ridge without much difficulty. After about two miles you’ll reach a relatively large meadow that older maps mark as Lake Sawyer. Today the small lake is gone, but it still serves as a useful landmark for finding the unmarked trail to the summit of Mt. Sawyer. As you enter the trees just past the onetime-lake, look for a small, steep track heading upwards. After a short scramble, you’ll find yourself on a narrow path switchbacking up the shoulders of the mountain. Although unmaintained and unofficial, the route sees more than enough traffic to keep the trail clear.

Before long the trail delivers you to the wooded summit with broad vistas stretching to the north and south. The bigger views are to the south, where Mt. Daniel and Mt. Hinman steal the show, and Mt. Rainier and the top of Mt. Thompson perch in the distance. To the west, pick out Beckler Peak, Mt. Baring and Mt. Index. Once you’ve had your fill, walk through the trees to see the mountaintops to the north, including Scorpion Mountain, Alpine Baldy, Mt. Fernow and Glacier Peak. Find a good rock and settle to soak up the views. For those looking for a longer day, you can continue past Mt. Sawyer up to Sawyer Pass and follow bootpaths down to Fisher Lake and Ptarmigan Lake beyond.

This is a great all-season trail that we recommend every hiker. Whether you’re looking for a snowshoe, springtime wildflowers, summer berry picking or autumn colors, Tonga Ridge delivers. The trail is also fairly easy and should be approachable for hikers of all ages and experience, which tends to draw in the crowds. You can expect to share the trail with a lot of other folks on this popular hike, and the limited parking at the trailhead can be challenge on a crowded day. If at all possible, try to hit Tonga Ridge on a weekday when traffic will be lighter.

To get there, take Highway 2 out past Skykomish just beyond milepost 50. Take a right onto FR 68, also known as the Foss River Road. Continue for about three-and-a-half miles to a junction, taking a left onto FR 6830 and following it for almost seven miles to the signed 310 spur. Head right onto the spur and drive a little over a mile to the end of the road and the trailhead. -Nathan

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Sunrise Mine Trail #707 to Vesper Peak

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:54:38 PST

Our Hiking Time: 6h 45m
Total Ascent: 3900ft
Highest Point: 6214ft
Total Distance: 6.6 miles
Location: N 48° 0.7800, W 121° 31.0740
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Hard

This week we headed out to the Mountain Loop Highway to take on Vesper Peak, one of the many hikes in the area that remain snowbound most of the year. The hike description hinted at stunning views, a lake, and perhaps traces of a mining operation, but cautioned that the route was difficult and a little treacherous. Vesper Peak delivered on both counts – we got our views, but our legs paid for them.

In 1889 gold was discovered around Monte Cristo. With that discovery, Monte Cristo boomed, and prospectors fanned out into nearby valleys and scaled rugged peaks looking for the next mother lode. Among those intrepid prospectors was F.M. Headlee, who is credited with discovering Barlow Pass in 1891. The Headlees were a prominent family in the area during this time. One Headlee filed the plat for the Monte Cristo townsite in 1893, and another spent decades as a Snohomish County public official. In 1897, F.M. Headlee finally found what he was looking for: his name appears on the Sunrise Prospect Mine claim along with T. E. Headlee and G.E. Humes. The mine was located near the head of Vesper Creek, though it is unclear whether this location was ever used for production. Instead, it seems that the Bren Mac Mine in the Sultan River Basin was used to access most of the minerals under Vesper Peak.

The Sunrise Mine Trail #707 begins by threading through a ragged stand of trees, with almost no underbrush. Greenery soon appears as a series of creeks and rivers cut across the rocky trail. The largest and most formidable is the South Fork Stillaguamish River, located about a half-mile down the trail. There are no permanent bridges here, so use caution crossing over rocks and logs, especially during the spring. Once you make it past the water, the trees begin to recede and the work begins. The trail slices through a valley of dense underbrush, switchbacking upwards toward the cliffs above. The narrow trail is more root and rock than earth, with parts of the trail missing where sections have fallen away.

Eventually the trail will plateau, and you will find yourself at the bottom of Wirtz Basin. Talus-filled and likely dotted with snow-fields, the high-walled basin seems like a dead end. Ahead, Morning Star Mountain looms at the head of the basin, and to the left are the heights of Sperry Peak. You will not be able to pick out Headlee Pass until you’re almost upon it, as the narrow break in the cliffs is hidden. Press onward, following the cairns over broad talus fields and winding past small pines and hemlocks. Use caution once you reach the base of the pass, where a series of tight switchbacks leads to the top and much of the trail is loose scree, making it easy to send rocks careening down the mountainside onto hikers below.

After you reach Headlee Pass, you may want to take a moment to poke your head over the rocks to get a taste of views to come. Once you catch your breath, follow the trail for another quarter-mile across boulders and loose rock to Vesper Creek. Here you can follow the creek a short distance up to snowy Lake Elan (sometimes referred to as Headlee Lake or Vesper Lake) or cross and find a few welcoming campsites.

The real prize lies ahead, at the top of Vesper Peak. The trail is not easy, and at times is little more than a scramble, but the rewards are worth the effort to reach the rocky summit. From the top you can pick out dozens of peaks. To the north the reddened slopes of Big Four Mountain loom above Copper Lake. As you turn east, find Mt. Dickerman, Mt. Pugh, Sloan Peak and Glacier Peak. Sperry Peak is right next door, while Morning Star Mountain and Del Campo Peak are further east. As you swing south, pick out Mt. Stuart and Mt. Rainier. Continue to the west and find Little Chief Peak, Whitehorse Mountain and the Three Fingers as you complete your 360-degree turn. There are too many peaks to name. Settle in for a well-deserved break and see how many mountains you recognize.

This hike is not for everyone. It is difficult, scaling over 4000ft in a little over three miles on rough trail. Some route finding skills are occasionally required, depending on how snow covered the trail is, and above Vesper Creek you can expect to encounter snow all year. With those caveats, we recommend this hike for strong hikers looking for a challenge. And, because it is difficult, there is a bit less traffic on the trail, so you can expect to enjoy the views in relative solace.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Take the MLH for almost 29 miles to the Sunrise Mine Road No. 4065 on your right. Follow the gravel road just under two-and-a-half miles to the end of the road and trailhead. –Nathan

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Kachess Ridge Beacon Trail #1315

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:01:08 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 45m
Total Ascent: 2200ft
Highest Point: 4600ft
Total Distance: 4.7 miles
Location: N 47° 16.9380, W 121° 10.6500
Required Permit: None.
Difficulty: Hard

Sometimes it seems that the more hiking we do, the more trails we discover. For all the trail miles we’ve put into the I-90 corridor, there are always more trails on our list to hike. Recently we had the chance explore Kachess Ridge, a somewhat lesser-known trail that scales one of the many ridges surrounding Lake Kachess.

Sometimes known as “Little Kachess,” the highpoint on Kachess Ridge is probably best known for its abandoned airway beacon. For a short time beginning with the installation of beacons on Mt. Catherine and McClellan Butte in 1934, a series of lighted beacons were strung across Snoqualmie Pass every 10 miles, allowing pilots to deliver mail and cargo after the sun went down. The “lighted airway” was part of a nationwide effort that began in the 1920s and sought to modernize air traffic by installing around 1,500 beacons.

Within a few years, the rise of radio quickly made lighted towers obsolete, prompting the removal of two of the Snoqualmie beacons in 1940. The FAA officially shut down the last beacon in 1973, though Montana still operates its own lighted route. The Kachess beacon, likely manufactured by IDECO, features a small shed below a 20ft tower that held a small electrical plant or acetylene tanks to power the beacon.

The Kachess Ridge Trail #1315 immediately begins to ascend the steep slopes of the Silver Creek drainage. Firs, pines and underbrush line this first portion of the trail, but quickly thin to reveal glimpses the rocky cliffs of nearby Easton Ridge. Occasional talus fields offer wider views. Depending on the time of year, your first taste of the hike’s wildflowers appear here, and hint at the abundance to come.

As you continue upwards, at about one-and-a-half miles, start looking for a faint path leading off toward a vista at the end of a switchback. It may have rocks or branches blocking the path, but it is otherwise unmarked. Once you find it, you have a choice. You can take the official route that switchbacks to the right and follows Silver Creek to the Kachess Beacon Trail junction. Alternatively, you can continue straight ahead on the faint path to a challenging and relentlessly direct route up the edge of the ridge to the beacon that offers stunning views of the valley and surrounding mountains. The official route is longer but has long stretches of level ground before climbing up to the ridgeline. We recommend heading straight ahead for quick access to the views and to avoid a very steep descent. This is also the best approach in the spring, when the official route will still be mired in snow.

Whether you choose to enjoy broad vistas or the roar of Silver Creek, both routes climb approximately 1,200 more feet of elevation before you reach the beacon. Dig in and push up to the top for your reward. Kachess Lake spreads out below, dwarfing nearby Lake Easton. To the west, rising from the base of the lake is Amabilis Mountain. On a good day, you’ll see Mt. Rainier poking up over mountains to the southwest. Directly to the south is Easton Ridge, followed by Domerie Peak and Mt. Baldy as you continue east. Pick out your other favorite mountaintops and peaks as you settle in for a break. If you still want more, you can continue along the ridgeline for another mile to reach Kachess Ridge’s 5,194ft highpoint.

Kachess Ridge has a great deal to offer – it is easily accessible from the freeway, but surprisingly few hikers are to be found along the trail. And, because it is east of the Pass, it is an ideal early season hike. A word of caution however; the spring route up the ridge is steep and challenging, so we don’t recommend it for the inexperienced. Either approach makes for a hard hike, but we think the views are worth the extra effort.

To get there, take I-90 to Exit 70. Take a left over the freeway and turn left onto West Sparks Road. Continue for a half-mile to FR 4818 (signed Kachess Dam Road) and take a right. Follow FR 4818 for a mile to an unmarked road on the right. Follow this road for a half-mile to the small parking area at the trailhead. -Nathan

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Mount Rose Trail #814

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:54:15 PST

Our Hiking Time: 5h 15m
Total Ascent: 3500ft
Highest Point: 4300ft
Total Distance: 6.5 miles
Location: N 47° 30.3420, W 123° 17.3460
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Hard

A few weeks ago we headed back to the Olympic Peninsula to continue our exploration of the Mount Skokomish Wilderness. Last summer, our trek up to the Lake of Angels gave us a taste of the northern reaches of the Wilderness. This year, we decided to check out the southern portion of the wilderness by taking on Mt. Ellinor’s neglected neighbor Mt. Rose. We were hoping for more of the stunning vistas we found on the way to the Lake of Angels, and Mt. Rose did not disappoint.

Mt. Rose is named for Mr. and Mrs. Aldred Rose, who travelled to the Pacific Northwest in 1885. They traded their life in California for a 150-acre claim on the shores of Lake Cushman. Sadly, Aldred died of smallpox in January of 1889, and the mountain is likely named in his honor after his untimely death.

The Mount Skokomish Wilderness was established by Congress through the Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984. Today, the 13,015 acre Wilderness remains wild; only four trails provide access to the area – the Mildred Lakes Trail, Mt. Ellinor Trail, Mt. Rose Trail, and the Putvin Trail – with a combined length of less than 14 miles. Still, the area is not so remote as to avoid the touch of man. In 2006, a man-made forest fire began on the shores of Lake Cushman quickly spread toward Mt. Rose, charring large sections of the mountain and searing most of the vegetation off the summit.

Mt. Rose #814 begins along a reclaimed road, gliding under a canopy of alder and cedar. The serene setting quickly becomes serious as the trail begins to switchback up the steep mountainside. As you climb, watch as the forest dries out, leaving the lush mixed forest, teeming with underbrush below, shifting to more mature stands of fir with hardier undergrowth. At just over a mile you’ll cross into the Mount Skokomish Wilderness and the trail continues to prod you relentlessly upward. Push on for another three-quarters of a mile to a small plateau signed “Horsecamp.”

From here, the trail splits into a loop to the summit. The shorter approach is to the left, though it is quite a bit steeper. The longer approach offers an extra half-mile of gentler terrain, which can be a nice change of pace on the way up, or preserve your knees for the way down. During the summer, choose whichever works best for you. However, if there is still significant snow on the trail, head left as deep snows linger late into the season on the longer approach. Either way, there is another mile of toil before you reach the rocky summit of Mt. Rose. Along the way, catch glimpses of Mt. Ellinor and Copper Mountain through the trees before passing into stands of weather-bleached trees burnt by the 2006 fire. Once you reach the top, settle in to take in Lake Cushman and the mountains spreading out before you. Directly across the water is Lightening Peak and Timber Mountain. In the distance behind them, you can pick out Capital Peak, Wonder Mountain, and Church Peak.

This is not an easy hike. Like most of the hikes in the Mount Skokomish Wilderness, the grade is steep and offers little respite along the way. However, thanks to a dedicated brigade of trail volunteers, this trail remains relatively clear of blowdowns and other trail damage. The group also continues to re-route the trail in an attempt to smooth out some of the steepest sections. Mt. Rose also makes an excellent alternative to Mt. Ellinor, as it receives a fraction of the traffic and offers a nearly identical experience. This hike is perfect for those looking for a challenge with rewarding views, searching for a new conditioning route, or heading to Mt. Ellinor and deciding they want something a little different.

To get there, take I-5 south to Olympia to Exit 104 toward Aberdeen and Port Angeles. Follow US 101 along Hood Canal just over 35 miles through Shelton to Hoodsport. Turn left onto Lake Cushman Road/State Route 119 and follow for a little over 9 miles to a T-intersection. Head left onto Forest Road 24. Continue for just under 3 miles to the signed driveway of the trailhead parking lot. -Nathan

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Little St. Helens Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:54:01 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 45m
Total Ascent: 1200ft
Highest Point: 4500ft
Total Distance: 7.5 miles
Location: N 47° 22.2540, W 121° 32.1000
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

We’ve spent a lot of time exploring the peaks and valleys that line the I-90 corridor. We’ve managed to hit most of the trails between Seattle and Snoqualmie Pass over the last few years, but there are quite a few destinations still to explore. Recently we trekked up to the top of Little St. Helens, a nondescript ridge tucked between Mount Gardner and Humpback Mountain.

For a variety of reasons, Little St. Helens does not see many hikers, and as a consequence there’s not much written about this overlooked highpoint. As to the name, we assume that like nearby Humpback Mountain, the ridge reminded folks of Mount St. Helens, though we had trouble seeing the resemblance. Few guidebooks mention this route -- the only one we know of is Dallas Kloke’s out of print Winter Climbs: One Day Ascents in the Western Cascades. If you have a little more information or background on this hike, we’d love to hear about it!

The route begins at the Hansen Creek Trailhead and follows a series of logging roads up to the summit. From the gravel pit, head west past the gate through sparse stands of young fir and hemlock. In a little under a mile, after walking up a long switchback you’ll reach a four-way intersection. Head right and uphill onto the flanks of Little St. Helens. As you continue, the trees increasingly give way to talus fields offering views of Humpback Mountain and the Snoqualmie Valley. Before long, the road wraps around the front of the ridge and soon delivers you to the nearly treeless summit. From here you can easily pick out Mt. Defiance, Bandera Mountain and Granite Mountain to the north. Humpback Mountain is directly to the east with Silver Peak rising in the distance. On a good day, Mt. Rainier looms large to the south. Mount Gardner lies to the west along with McClellan Butte’s sharply pointed peak.

Although the hike is not far out of the way, it sees very little traffic. For the most part, folks visiting Little St. Helens are zealous peak baggers, adventuresome mountain bikers and the occasional snowshoer looking for something a little different. The hike does feel a bit like a walk through a tree farm rather than a forest, and that probably makes it a little less appealing than many nearby hikes. Yet it is still able to offer some of the same panoramic views with a relative ease. If you’re looking for a new hike and want to beat the crowds, Little St. Helens is a great alternative. It might also be a good choice for relatively new hikers, as the road grade is fairly gentle and should not pose too much of a challenge.

To get there, take Exit 47 off I-90 and take a right over the bridge. At the intersection, turn right onto Tinkham Road (aka Forest Road 55). Continue for roughly a mile to a fork and veer left onto the Hansen Creek Road (aka Forest Road 5510). Follow the road for roughly four miles under the old railroad trestle and up two switchbacks to a former gravel pit that serves as the trailhead parking lot. -Nathan

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Wilderness Peak Loop - Cougar Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:44:13 PST

Our Hiking Time: 2h
Total Ascent: 1200ft
Highest Point: 1600ft
Total Distance: 3.5 miles
Location: N 47° 31.1880, W 122° 5.6100
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

Although we’ve explored much of Cougar Mountain, we’d yet to climb its highest peak and tour the somewhat lesser-traveled south-eastern portion of the park. A few weeks ago we finally found some time to head back into the Issaquah Alps and head up Wilderness Peak for a short hike a little closer to home.

We’ve covered much of Cougar Mountain’s past on previous hikes. From the early coal mining days to the area’s more recent military history, the nearly 30-year-old park contains and preserves a rich cultural legacy. However, Wilderness Peak is conspicuously absent from this saga. Our only guess is that this section of forest really was something of a wilderness at one time – at least compared to the nearby coal mining operations. Wilderness Peak is made of different rock than other portions of Cougar Mountain, so there was little to lure the miners away from the rich coal seams that ran below the peak. And while some portions of the park were logged in the 1920s and 1940s, other sections were never logged at all, including areas near the top of Wilderness Peak.

The trail begins at the Wilderness Peak Trailhead, and combines the Wilderness Creek, Wilderness Peak, and Wilderness Cliffs trails into a short loop through Cougar’s lush mixed forest. Begin by heading uphill and almost immediately crossing Wilderness Creek, which will be your companion for the next mile or so. Gently switchback through a sea of sword fern and salal for about a half-mile under a canopy of alder and maple to find the first junction. Here, a small bridge crosses the creek and the Wilderness Creek Trail continues to the left while Wilderness Cliffs Trail branches right. Either trail will get you to the top, but because the Cliffs Trail is significantly steeper, most folks head left onto the Wilderness Peak Trail.

As you head left, you’ll pass through The Boulders, a collection of moss-covered glacial erratics deposited millennia ago by retreating glaciers. As you climb up the creek valley, more and more surfaces are covered with moss and fern. At the same time the forest increasingly yields to larger numbers of cedar and fir. Soon you’ll find yourself crossing boggy areas on narrow boardwalks before climbing out of the creek valley up to Shy Bear Pass where a number of trails intersect and connect up with the rest of the Cougar Mountain trail system. From here you can follow the Shy Bear Trail into the center of the park, or take a quick jaunt out to Long View Peak. While the area is well-signed, if you're looking to do a little extra roaming, you may want to take along a map.

We veered to the right onto Wilderness Peak Trail, which glides fairly easily to your destination. A short spur leads out to Cougar’s highest pinnacle. There are no views here, just the quiet of heavy forest, a sturdy bench and a summit register. Take a moment to write a little something in the register, then head back to the main trail and take the Wilderness Cliffs Trail down to complete the loop. One word of caution as you near the bottom: there is a very tempting trail junction that continues downhill. Resist the urge to follow it and head back to the Wilderness Creek Trail and the creek crossing.

This is a great hike for an afternoon or post-work tromp through the forest. While not incredibly steep, it is a little bit of a work out through Cougar’s varied landscapes – everything from bogs to old growth. This loop is also hiker exclusive, so you’re unlikely to encounter any horses, which may be important to some dog owners. What this hike lacks in views it makes up for in landscape and solitude, as you can expect a little less traffic in this section of the park. If you haven’t made it out to this end of Cougar Mountain yet, consider a trek up to Wilderness Peak in the coming weeks.

To get there, take I-90 to Exit 15 and head right onto Highway 900, also known as Renton-Issaquah Road. Continue for a little over three miles to the signed Cougar Mountain Wilderness Creek Trailhead on your right. The driveway is easy to miss – keep an eye out for a paved road heading uphill. Park in the small parking lot and head up. -Nathan

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Cherry Creek Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:09:25 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 30m
Total Ascent: 300ft (150ft in; 150ft out)
Highest Point: 480ft
Total Distance: 5.5 miles
Location: N 47° 46.0500, W 121° 52.4713
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

Idyllic pockets of nature, often tucked away and preserved on public lands, are sometimes overlooked in favor of expansive vistas and remote alpine lakes. We may forget that some of these areas are relatively close to urban areas and make excellent hiking destinations. Recently we had the chance to check out one such area when we headed out Marckworth State Forest to explore the Cherry Creek Valley and find Cherry Creek Falls.

Back in 1890, the Millet and McKay logging company began constructing a logging railroad to move timber out of the Cherry Creek Valley more quickly and efficiently. In 1904, the Cherry Creek Logging and Railway Company bought up Millet and McKay and expanded the railway lines up to a number of logging camps, including one situated near Cherry Creek Falls. Mergers in 1915 created the Cherry Valley Timber Company, but in 1916 F.E. Weyerhaeuser joined the board of directors, and the company was reorganized as the Cherry Valley Logging Company. Over the next decade logging in Cherry Valley began to wind down. In 1926, most of the remaining timberland was sold off, and the 1928 most of the logging equipment was sold to Weyerhaeuser. In 1948 the last of the company’s remaining land was sold and the Cherry Valley Logging Company was no more.

Marckworth State Forest was dedicated in 1967, named in honor of a recent Dean of the University of Washington School of Forestry. Once envisioned as an experimental forest much like Pack Forest, the area has instead grown to over 16,000 acres of working forest managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). However, because the DNR does not currently receive funding to maintain or manage the Forest, the agency has not yet come up with a public use plan, so public information about the area is minimal and there are no official maps.

The trickiest part of this hike is reaching your destination. With its long history of logging, the Forest is riddled with logging roads that can easily turn you around. To add to the confusion, the DNR’s lack of funding for the Marckworth Forest means there are no signs to point you in the right direction. We recommend you print out our directions or download our route and bring along the GPS just in case you take a wrong turn.

From the parking area, find a road with a blue gate a few feet to the south. Follow this logging road over a bridge crossing Margaret Creek and past a spur branching off to the right. At a little under a mile you’ll reach a split in the road. Veer right and uphill and continue a short distance to another branch, where you’ll head right and downhill. Drop down to the end of the road and head left onto a short user trail some helpful folks carved through the brush to connect with another nearby logging road. Once you reach the road, continue straight for about a mile, crossing a number of small streams to reach Hannan Creek. As soon as you cross the creek, look for a trail leading down toward the water. There are a couple of trails here, in various states of use, but all lead to an overlook above Cheery Creek Falls and continue down to the base of the falls.

Because Cherry Creek Falls is a little under the radar for how close it is to Duvall and other nearby urban centers, don’t expect too much company during most of the year – except during the high summer when the falls become a popular swimming area. Once you get past the hassle of finding the falls, this is a very easy and accessible hike. The route is almost exclusively along logging roads, making a fairly level and smooth grade as you travel through a wide range of forest including everything from vine maples and alders to aging hemlock and Douglas fir. This makes it perfect for kids or first-time hikers, offering a little bit of backcountry feel that almost anyone can reach.

To get there, take SR 520 to its end in Redmond and continue on Avondale Road for a mile. Veer right onto Novelty Hill Road. Continue on Novelty Hill Road for about five miles to a T-intersection. Turn left onto Snoqualmie Valley Road and then almost immediately take a right onto 124th Street. After one mile, 124th meets up with the Carnation-Duvall Road (also known as SR 203). Turn left and head through downtown Duvall. As you’re about to leave town, veer right onto Cherry Creek Valley Road. Continue on Cherry Creek Valley Road for just over four miles to Mountain View Road. Turn left and immediately find a small parking area on the right side of the road. Park and find the gated trailhead a few feet to the south. -Nathan

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Lower South Fork Skokomish River Trail #873

noreply@blogger.com (Nathan) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:07:07 PST

Our Hiking Time: 4h
Total Ascent: 800ft (500ft in; 300ft out)
Highest Point: 900ft
Total Distance: 8.5 miles
Location: N 47° 26.5800, W 123° 23.4480
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

Recently, we had a chance to return to the Olympic Peninsula to check out a popular hike that promised moderate elevation gain, old growth forests and the company of a river. The Lower South Fork Skokomish River Trail #873 managed to provide all this and more.

People have relied on the waters of the Skokomish for hundreds of years. A Salishan people known as the Twana Indians maintained at least nine permanent settlements along the river system. The largest of these village communities was the Skokomish, which means “big river people” or “people of the river” in Salish. Before settlers arrived around 1860, the Skokomish established a network of trails along the river to trade with the Quinault Indians to the east. As settlers slowly displaced the Skokomish Indians, they cut a wider and more permanent route to the Quinault to help move resources out of the river valley. In the 1950s, timber interests used this permanent route when clear-cutting large areas along the river. Today’s trail largely follows these old timber roads.

Although logging has been banned in the Olympic Nation Forest since the late 1980s, the river continues to feel the lingering effects of the clear-cuts. The Skokomish continues to be extremely flood-prone, most recently on December 3, 2007 when storm water caused the river to swell to more than twenty times its mean flow, discharging almost thirty thousand cubic feet per second. The flood destroyed Camp Comfort, an open section of riverbank that had been a stopping point for hikers of the Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail for generations.

The trail begins with a series of switchbacks, quickly climbing a few hundred feet past sword fern and salal before leveling out high above the river in a section of old growth firs. The wide, well-maintained trail breezes past trees hundreds of years old, and then abruptly descends back down to the riverside. From here, the trail becomes tame with only minor elevation changes and small creeks to tiptoe across. As you wander along, enjoy the sounds of the river and watch as the forest shifts easily between stands of maple and alder to hemlock and fir. Also, keep an eye out for wildlife, especially the herds of Olympic Elk that frequent the area.

There are a number of decent stopping points along the trail. Some like to call it a day at a bridge and waterfall a quarter-mile short of Camp Comfort. At almost exactly four miles, Camp Comfort was an ideal destination before it was washed away in 2007. Others like to get closer to the five-mile mark and turn around at a viewpoint at a river bend. We recommend aiming for Camp Comfort and clambering across the rocks and driftwood for a lunch by the river.

This popular hike has some of the best of the Olympics flora and fauna and is well worth a visit. Not surprisingly, the trail attracts hikers year-round as well as mountain bikers and equestrians, so expect a little company. The hike is approachable for hikers of every skill level, and while the initial 300ft hurdle might be a challenging for some youngsters, most of the route is a decent trek for kids. When we visited, large winter blowdowns made the hike a little more difficult, but we anticipate much of this will be cleared as summer gets into full swing.

To get there, take I-5 south to Olympia to Exit 104 toward Aberdeen and Port Angeles. Follow US 101 along Hood Canal just over 27 miles through Shelton to Skokomish Valley Road. Take a left and follow the road five and a half miles to Forest Service Road #23. Head right and continue a little over nine miles to Forest Service Road #2353. Turn right and cross over the South Fork Skokomish River in less than a mile. Turn left at the four-way intersection and find the trailhead within a few tenths of a mile. –Nathan

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Welldigger's Ass Snowshoe via Yodelin Ski Area

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:01:25 PST

Our Hiking Time: 3h 15m
Total Ascent: 1700ft
Highest Point: 5300ft
Total Distance: 4.0 miles
Location: N 47° 46.1580, W 121° 3.0180
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

We managed to work in a short snowshoe a few weeks ago, taking advantage of some decent weather to explore portions of the old Yodelin Ski Area near Stevens Pass. We were aiming for a lonely prominence above the Ski Area unofficially named Welldiggers Ass, where we had heard we could find some decent views. Although trail information was a little sparse, we plugged the coordinates into our GPS and headed out to see what we could find.

The Yodelin Ski Area opened for business on December 27, 1969. At the time, Yodelin boasted a three-story lodge, a single rope tow, and a 1,800-foot double chairlift. Owned by Nason Properties, the operation also worked to develop over 180 homesites into “Yodelin Village” across the highway from the ski area. During 1970, a number of lodges and cabins were built, and the venture appeared off to a good start. However, on January 24, 1971, a large avalanche crushed two cabins, killing four and hitting the resort with over $2,000,000 in legal claims. Despite continued warnings from the State of Washington of how avalanche-prone the area was, Nason Properties continued to develop and expand the Yodelin Ski Area. In 1972, an additional 1,600-foot chairlift was installed, but the expansion only helped the Ski Area to limp along for another few years. By 1976, the Stevens Pass Ski Area bought what remained of Yodelin, including a chairlift, which is still in operation as the Tye-Mill lift. The remaining lift was moved to Crystal Mountain where it serves as the Upper Cambell lift.

The trail begins from the old Yodelin parking lot, now usually referred to as the overflow lot for Stevens Pass. The route initially follows the remains of the roads used by the defunct ski area, before quickly switchbacking up the mountainside. You will quickly find expansive views of the surrounding landscape as you wind your way up Yodelin’s former slopes. Along the way, keep an eye out for another artifact of the area’s past: the concrete foundations that once supported the ski lifts still trace a route up the mountain.

Once you reach the ridgeline, steer east toward a burned out swath of forest to reach Welldiggers Ass. Slog your way up through a maze of bleach-white tree trunks and into the forest, pushing past the true summit to a viewpoint further east. The views are not stunning, but you should be able to pick out nearby Jim Hill Mountain, Arrowhead Mountain and the Chiwaukums. If you are thirsty for a little more distance, retrace your path and head to the flat-topped highpoint at the southern end of the ridge, known as Point 5023.

Short, sweet and easily accessible, this little snowshoe is perfect if you are short on time or want to add a couple extra miles to your day. As an added bonus, the slopes do not see a lot of foot traffic these days. Backcountry skiers occasionally make their way over from the Steven’s Pass Ski Area, but most do not make it all the way up to Welldiggers Ass, so expect a little solitude at the top.

To get there, take US 2 to Stevens Pass. Continue another mile and a half past the main ski area to an overflow parking lot on the right. Once parking for Yodelin, the Stevens Pass area now owns the lodge here. Park and find the route beginning behind the lodge. -Nathan

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Fairfax Ghost Town

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:08:14 PDT

Our Hiking Time: 2h 15m
Total Ascent: 100ft
Highest Point: 1400ft
Total Distance: 2 miles
Location: N 47° 0.7140, W 122° 0.9000
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

As winter begins to wane and the snow levels grudgingly recede, we’re really looking forward to getting back on some mountaintops. Until then, we’ve found ourselves alternating between snowshoeing and finding out-of-the-way places in the lowlands. We recently stuck to the lower elevations and explored the Fairfax townsite, another coal-boom ghost town along the Carbon River.

Like Franklin and nearby Melmont, Fairfax sprang up around rich coal deposits. Founded in 1892, it was named for Fairfax County, Virginia by W.E. Williams and platted in 1897 when the Northern Pacific Railway was extended from Carbonado out to Fairfax. The town quickly expanded, and by 1901, 60 coking ovens were producing 252,000 tons of furnace grade coal a month. The population of Fairfax grew with the rising demand for coal during World War I, reaching 500 people by 1915. Access to the town was limited exclusively to railroad car until December 17, 1921, when the county extended the road over the Carbon River and into Fairfax.

However, over the next twenty years, the coal yields slowly dropped along with demand, as the country shifted toward oil and gasoline for its energy needs. By 1941 Fairfax was a ghost town, many inhabitants having hastily abandoned their homes and property. During this time Pierce County began to foreclose on properties in and around Fairfax for failure to pay property taxes. The lands remained as county “surplus” until 2002, when 640 acres were set aside as open space for public use, including the townsite and 80 acres of original old growth. Over the years, floods, fires, and salvaging destroyed most of the abandoned structures, and the forest continues to aggressively reclaim the townsite. Still, after seventy years you can find foundations, artifacts, and the long line of coking ovens.

The hike begins with a quick descent down toward the river, following the roadbed into town. Expect to navigate a little underbrush as you head down, as there is no formal trail maintenance happening in the area. Within a few minutes, you’ll be standing near the edge of the large meadow that was once Fairfax. From here, you can start exploring in any direction, or follow the loop we’ve put together. However, keep in mind that most of the structures are across the meadow to the north, including the swimming pool, the site of the old railroad bridge, and the coking ovens.

The easiest way to find most of these is to follow the faint impression of the main road through town, which cuts through the middle of the meadow. Keep an eye out for a large, artificial-looking hillock extending toward the river. A game trail here will lead you out to the river, and the cement foundation of the railroad bridge. Scramble up onto the embankment for a nice view of the Carbon River, as well as the rock jetty that was built to try and control flooding. Head back to the main road, and continue following it across the meadow and into the trees. The swimming pool foundation is just off to the right. From the foundation, head northwest toward a small stream. The coking ovens are tucked into the large mound on the other side of the water.

The most difficult part of this hike is finding it. There is almost nothing in the way of signage to indicate that you are in the right place. Eventually, after retracing our steps a few times, we found a small pullout that looked promising. Only then did we find the small laminated sign indicating that we were on the edge of Fairfax Forest. Beyond that, this is an easy walk through Washington’s mining history. However, while the hike is not strenuous, the area is undeveloped and some parts can be a little wet and muddy, so come prepared to get a little dirty. Fairfax is the largest ghost town we’ve visited, and there is much more to see than we’ve mentioned here. Consider exploring this section of the Carbon River Valley sometime soon.

To get there, take I-5 South to I-405. From I-405 take SR 167 south toward Auburn. In 20 miles take the SR 410 Exit toward Sumner/Yakima. Follow SR 410 for 12 miles to SR 165. Take a right and continue on SR 165 for about 10 miles through Carbonado to the Fairfax Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue on SR 165 for a half-mile. Veer left onto the Carbon River Road when the highway splits, and follow for just under two miles to a few large boulders on the left side of the road. There is a small pull out here. Park and follow the old roadbed down to the townsite. –Nathan

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Pack Forest - Little Mashel Falls & Hugo Peak

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:18:51 PST

Our Hiking Time: 4h
Total Ascent: 1300ft
Highest Point: 1728ft
Total Distance: 7.0 miles
Location: N 46° 50.5560, W 122° 17.5080
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Moderate

This week we headed out to Pack Forest, an old favorite from our childhood. It had been years since we wandered along Pack Forest’s trails and we thought it would make for a decent winter hike. After doing a little research and plotting out a rough route, we packed up and headed out to Eatonville.

In the 1920s, Charles Lathrop Pack was one of the richest men in the United States. His wealth was built on timber and real estate, and in 1926, he gave the University of Washington College of Forest Resources enough cash to purchase 334 acres of forestland. The Charles L. Pack Experimental Forest was born. Today, Pack Forest has grown to a sprawling 4,300 acres, dedicated to forestry research, education, and recreation. With more than 50 miles of lowland trails, Pack Forest attracts hikers, bikers, equestrians, and hunters year-round.

Our first destination was Hugo Peak, the highest point in Pack Forest, named for a former dean of the College of Forestry, Hugo A. Winkenwerder. The Hugo Peak Trail begins at the Gatehouse and heads somewhat steeply up the mountainside. At just over 1700ft, Hugo Peak is not exactly imposing, but the rough and narrow trail is a little overgrown in places, making the ascent a little more challenging. The route cuts across a few trails and roads along the way, including the 1000 Road, a large loop open to vehicle traffic during the week. If you choose, you can cut out the lower section of the Hugo Peak Trail and just pick up the trail along the 1000 Road.

Near the top, the trail suddenly changes into Road 1081, and you are soon at a somewhat confusing intersection. Head uphill to find the small, grassy clearing that is Hugo Peak. Over the years, trees have grown to block out most of the view. Currently, the view is limited to a narrow opening in trees looking north toward the surrounding valleys. Take in the view, sign the summit register, and head back down to the intersection.

Our next destination was the waterfalls along the Little Mashel River, which are in the northern section of the park. To get there, just head downhill on Road 1080 toward Kirkland Pass, where most of the park’s major roads meet. If you have some extra time, take a short stroll through the Trail of the Giants, a walk through a section of Pack Forest’s old growth. From Kirkland Pass, the more direct route is to follow Road 1000 east to connect with Road 1070 and eventually the Falls Trail. However, if you are looking for more trail time, you can take the Reservoir Trail which heads north and eventually leads to Road 1000.

Whichever way you go, you will soon be walking down Road 1070 to the Falls Trail, which leads down into a canyon carved by the Little Mashel River. There are three waterfalls to see: starting with Tom Tom Falls, then Little Mashel Falls (often referred to as Bridal Veil Falls), and finally Lower Little Mashel Falls. The Falls Trail skips Tom Tom Falls, though you can catch glimpses of it by wandering a bit offtrail. The wide path quickly descends toward the river, with side trails branching off for views of the falls.

Follow the first branch for Little Mashel Falls, the largest of the three waterfalls. You’ll have a choice between exploring the upper falls or the lower, we recommend you start with the upper, which takes you to the wide, flat rocks above the falls. This is the perfect place to settle down for lunch or a snack. If you prefer a closer look at Little Mashel Falls, take the steep trail down to the river. The trail can be very slippery, so use caution as you approach the falls. During the summer when the river flow is a little lighter, you can easily climb over the rocks and walk behind the falls. Again, the rocks are often slick, so be careful when clambering around beneath the waterfall.

To reach the final waterfall, Lower Little Mashel Falls, head back to the main Falls Trail and continue downward to the next branch. This trail is very overgrown, rough, and often muddy. Expect to be climbing over blowdowns and fallen logs. The trail ends in an overlook of the multi-tiered Lower Mashel Falls, which are easily worth the extra effort to see them. After you’ve had your fill, head back out to Road 1000 and follow it back to the Gatehouse.

Pack Forest is always open, and almost always free of snow in the winter. While some of the trails can be a little challenging, forest roads can take a hiker nearly anywhere in the park. With minimal elevation gain and easy access, this is a great pick for winter walks, hiking with youngsters or bringing out the dog for an adventure. We suggest that you bring along a map, as the multiple roads and trails can be confusing, and maps are not always available from the Gatehouse in the winter. If you make it out to Pack Forest, we highly recommend you take the time to head out to the waterfalls, which are well worth the trip.

To get there, take I-5 South to Tacoma, taking Exit 127 for Highway 512. In about two miles, take the State Route 7 exit toward Spanaway. Continue on SR 7 for roughly 22 miles to the signed entrance to the University of Washington Pack Forest on the left. -Nathan

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Glacier Vista Snowshoe at Paradise Mt. Rainier

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:39:19 PST

Our Hiking Time: 1h 20m
Total Ascent: 900ft
Highest Point: 6400ft
Total Distance: 2.5 miles
Location: N 46° 48.0960, W 121° 44.0880
Required Permit: National Park Pass
Difficulty: Moderate

On a sunny weekend a few weeks ago, we packed up our snowshoes and headed out with a few destinations in mind. After some discussion, we decided to indulge our nostalgia and drive the extra distance to visit Paradise on the slopes of Mt. Rainier. It was from the parking lots around Paradise that we began our assent to the summit back in 2008, and we had not been back since. We were long overdue.

In 1885, a member of the Longmire family visited a flower-covered valley on a sunny day, and christened it Paradise. While there is some debate as to whether it was Virinda or Martha Longmire who came up with the name, no one is arguing its accuracy: the allure of Paradise has drawn millions of people to the area over the years. Reliable roads did not reach the area until 1915, but commerce quickly followed and in July 1917, the Paradise Inn was opened. Independently operated until it was sold to the Park Service in 1952, the Inn has welcomed guests nearly every year since it opened. In 1966 the Paradise Visitor Center was opened and later renamed in 1987 for Senator Henry M. Jackson to honor his efforts to support Rainier National Park. If you haven’t been to Paradise in a few years, you’ll find a new Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center to greet you, which opened in 2008. The original “sunken Space Needle” building was demolished in 2009.

Glacier Vista is a treat in both the summer and the winter. It is an easy hike during the summer months, following the Skyline Trail through alpine meadows brimming with wildflowers, past pines and hemlocks dwarfed by the altitude. In the winter, the snowshoe route is a little more challenging. Some of the challenge comes from the added effort, but route finding can also be an issue. On the upside, if you’re there on a low avalanche danger day, it will be easy to find a route already cut through the powder. If you’re breaking trail, start to the west of the sledding area, heading upwards toward the tree-covered rise known as Alta Vista. We recommend you bear to the left around the knoll as it is less difficult, but either approach will get you there. Continue to parallel the Nisqually Glacier for about a mile-and-a-half to a broad flat area. This is Glacier Vista.

From this vantage point you can take in the massive Nisqually Glacier as well as the Nisqually Valley spreading out below. Rising above the parking lot to the south, a jagged ridgeline marks the beginning of the Tatoosh range, with prominences including Pinnacle Peak, Castle Peak, and Plummer Peak. Beyond, you can pick out the snow-topped Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens. If you’re feeling like stretching your legs more, continue to follow the Skyline trail up to Panorama Point, to get a better view of the landscape.

Paradise is the perfect destination for exploring with youngsters or test driving that new pair of snowshoes. Many of the trails are paved, making the lower trail network friendly to strollers and wheelchairs in the summer months. Of course, expect a lot of company when visiting Paradise, though the traffic quickly dwindles as you head uphill and out to Glacier Vista or Panorama Point. If you’ve never been up to Paradise, we highly recommend you make the trip this year. One word of caution if you’re planning a winter visit – make sure to check the avalanche danger and keep an eye on the weather, which can change extremely quickly.

To get there, take I-5 South to Tacoma, taking Exit 127 for Highway 512. In about two miles, take the State Route 7 exit toward Spanaway. Continue on SR 7 for about 30 miles to the junction with SR 706 in Elbe. Keep to the left and follow SR 706 a little under 15 miles to the park entrance. From the gate, it is another 14 miles to the Paradise parking area. - Nathan

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Franklin Ghost Town & Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:11:51 PST

Our Hiking Time: 1h 30m
Total Ascent: 300ft
Highest Point: 800ft
Total Distance: 2.2 miles
Location: N 47° 17.5980, W 121° 58.0860
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

Continuing this winter’s theme of visiting ghost towns and abandoned places, we recently explored the Franklin Townsite near Black Diamond. Like many former mining communities in Washington, much of the once-bustling town is now gone, much of it reclaimed by nature. Still, enough cement and metal remains to hint at the coal-centered community that called Franklin home for more than 30 years.

Sometime in the late 1880s, those that were mining coal in Black Diamond branched out to the Green River and began work in the hills around Franklin. Connected by railroad to the rest of the world in 1885, the post office soon followed in 1886. Labor disputes intensified in May 1891, when hundreds of African-American miners were recruited from the Midwest to replace striking white miners. Unfortunately, the new arrivals were not told about the strike, and upon arrival were issued a firearm supposedly as a defense against local Native Americans. Tensions quickly mounted and two died in the resulting riot, which was only quelled in July when Governor Elisha Ferry called in the National Guard.

In 1894, Franklin was rocked by the second worst mining disaster in Washington’s history. Thirty-seven miners suffocated when a coal fire broke in the mine. Miscommunication and poor management led first to the shutdown of the fan that supplied air to the miners, then to opening doors that changed the airflow in the mineshaft. This trapped the coal smoke 1000ft below the surface and killed the miners. Later, evidence surfaced that the fire was intentionally set, though the arsonist was among those that perished. At the turn of the century as oil continued to replace coal, demand fell and families began to leave Franklin. The post office closed in 1916 and mining largely ceased by 1919. World War II created enough demand for coal that the Palmer Coking Company sporadically mined around Franklin from the late 1940s until 1971 when the coal car bridge spanning the Green River was dynamited and removed. Today, the Black Diamond Historical Society leads tours of Franklin, and cleanup efforts by local school and scout troops keep the area accessible.

The trickiest part of a trek to Franklin is finding it. Although the Franklin Townsite is owned by King County Parks, there is no motorized access and there is not much in the way of parking. Access is located just before you cross the Green River Gorge Bridge, marked by chain-link gate covered in No Parking Signs. There is room for one vehicle on the opposite side of the road a little closer to the bridge. If that is taken, most people drive down to a little cemetery a quarter-mile or so back toward Black Diamond. Once you’re parked, head back to the chain-link fence, you can see a yellow gate in the distance, which is the beginning of King County Park Property. The property in between is private, but King County has an easement along the road, so just stick to the gravel road and head toward the gate.

Things are easy once on the trail. Head up to a signed junction complete with an ore cart donated by the Palmer Coking Company. Veer left for the mine and cemetery. While there are some foundations on the right, you need permission from Palmer before doing much in the way of exploring on their land.

Brush past sword fern and salal as you follow the road up to the mineshaft. Dropping 1300ft into the ground, the shaft was popular amongst spelunkers and other explorers, but after a couple of accidents, the state sealed the shaft in the 80s. After you’ve taken a moment to drop a few rocks down the pit, move on toward the cemetery. The trail is a little rougher here and not quite as wide, but it is still an easy stroll to the ivy-covered cemetery. Along the way, you’ll pass a section of rusting trestle that once supported the eight-inch wooden pipe that supplied water to the town. Without much warning, you will suddenly notice a few marble tombstones rising out of the brush. Take a moment to explore and reflect on the community that once thrived here.

Franklin is a fun little adventure on those days that you cannot make it out to the mountains. While it is not exactly a traditional hike, it is a walk steeped in the history of this state. Its obscurity and somewhat confusing access makes it likely that you’ll have the ghost town to yourself and lends a feeling of remoteness. There is also much more to explore in Franklin – it’s possible to head down to the site of the coal bridge or get permission from Palmer to hike to the top of Franklin Hill. A day spent tromping around Franklin is well worth the trip.

To get there, take I-5 South to 405. Take Exit 4 off 405 onto SR 169. Follow SR 169 for 18 miles into Black Diamond to Lawson St. Take a left and follow Lawson as it changes into Green River Gorge Road. About three-and-a-half miles from Black Diamond as the road bends toward the Green River Gorge Bridge, find a chain-link gate on the right. This is the access point. Find parking on the roadside or at the nearby cemetery. -Nathan

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Skookum Falls via Skookum Flats Trail #1194

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:38:01 PST

Our Hiking Time: 2h 15m
Total Ascent: 400ft
Highest Point: 2500ft
Total Distance: 5 miles
Location: N 47° 3.0240, W 121° 34.5540
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
Difficulty: Easy

Over the years, we’ve driven down Highway 410 many, many times. On almost all of these excursions, we pass the little roadside pullout perched on the banks of the White River. Invariably, the viewpoint is populated with a few parked cars and some curious travelers craning to get a good look at Skookum Falls as it tumbles 250ft over a cliff and down toward the river. Recently, we decided it was time to stop passing the waterfall by and finally went to get a closer look, along the Skookum Flats Trail #1194.

“Skookum” is a popular adjective in Chinook Jargon. It can mean many different things depending on the context, though it is usually positive. Associated with strength and power, it is likely that the waterfall was named for its height and impressive flow during the annual snowmelt. For veterans of this trail, the suspension bridge that once connected Skookum Flats to the Buck Creek Trail #1169 is still out. The Forest Service has yet to replace the bridge since it was destroyed by a storm in the winter of 2006.

The route meanders alongside the White River on its way to Skookum Creek. As the name suggests, Skookum Flats involves little in the way of elevation gain, instead it takes a hiker on a gentle tour beneath looming Douglas fir, past mossy rocks and fallen trees, while providing ample opportunity to take in the river and the Snoquera Palisades. The popular trail is wide and flat, free of rocks and roots. Its popularity also ensures that windfalls and debris felled by the storms that frequent the area are quickly removed.

At about the two-mile mark, the sound of rushing water begins to overpower the noise of the river. Catch glimpses of falling water through the leaves as you approach Skookum Creek. Just across the water, a sign points uphill with the simple word “Falls.” The bootpath up to the base of the Skookum Falls is rough and spray from the falls can make the path slick. Use caution if you choose to get a closer look. If you’re craving some more distance, you can continue on another two miles to the end of the trail and the site of the bridge washout.

The low elevation of this trail makes it an ideal hike in the winter when other trails are buried under the snow. However, if you want to see the waterfall flowing in full force, you’re better off coming in the late spring during the melt. Of course, the ease of this trail makes it a good choice for young hikers as well as trail running. If you’re heading out to Skookum Flats, keep in mind the trail also very popular with mountain bikers, so be ready to share the trail during the summer.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18 Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Head left onto SR 410 for 25 miles to Huckleberry Creek Road (FR 73). Turn right onto FR 73 and follow for a half-mile to the trailhead on the left just beyond the bridge. -Nathan

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Melmont Ghost Town

noreply@blogger.com (Jer) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:42:34 PST

Our Hiking Time: 2h
Total Ascent: 100ft
Highest Point: 1360ft
Total Distance: 2.5 miles
Location: N 47° 1.8360, W 122° 1.9980
Required Permit: None
Difficulty: Easy

As we continue hiking Washington’s mountains and forests, we often find ourselves running into pieces of the past. The state is riddled with crumbling buildings, abandoned towns, and former railroad hubs. Recently, we decided adding a few more ghost towns to the blog would be fun and so we packed up and headed out to the town of Melmont to see what we could find.

Melmont was founded in 1900 around the Melmont Coal Mine, producing coal exclusively for the Northern Pacific Railway. For a few years, the small town boomed, boasting a train depot, hotel, post office and schoolhouse. Although the mine yielded upwards of 750 tons of coal per day, when the railroad shifted away from coal-driven trains to more modern diesel models, the town crumbled. By 1915 the post office was shuttered, and by 1920 the mines were largely closed. A forest fire cleared out all but a few cement foundations around the same time. In 1921, the Fairfax Bridge opened above the Carbon River, bypassing Melmont’s railroad bridge and connecting Fairfax to the state highway system. When it opened, the Fairfax Bridge was the tallest in Washington, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The trail begins on the north side of the bridge with a short scramble down to the Northern Pacific’s railroad grade. From here, Melmont is an easy one-mile stroll upstream, following a wide path under mossy alders and young hemlock. However, because ATV traffic churns up a lot of earth, during the wetter months a thick layer of mud can cover the trail. Although the mud can be a little messy, it is not so bad that it will make your hike more difficult.

Shortly after you leave the bridge behind, you’ll pass a large rock retaining wall followed quickly by a structure most refer to as the “Dynamite Shack.” As you push onward, the trail splits just above an open field that was once the residential area of town. Heading uphill will lead to the crumbling foundation of one of Melmont’s schoolhouses, while pushing onward will lead to the site of the hotel and the remains of Melmont’s bridge. Either way you choose, enjoy wandering the area and finding traces of the 100-year-old town.

If you’re looking for a short stroll through Washington’s history, Melmont is a good choice. Other than the short drop down to the railroad grade, which could be tricky for some very young hikers, the trip out to the town site is very easy. At the same time, there is not much in the way of serious hiking. You can extend your hike a bit to push down to the river, but other than that, we are not sure there is much more to see. We recommend this hike for those interested in ghost towns or those looking for a quick winter adventure.

To get there, take I-5 South to I-405. From I-405 take SR 167 south toward Auburn. In 20 miles take the SR 410 Exit toward Sumner/Yakima. Follow SR 410 for 12 miles to SR 165. Take a right and continue on SR 165 for about 10 miles through Carbonado to the Fairfax Bridge. A small gravel turnout on the far side of the bridge provides parking. Hike back across the bridge and head toward the rock wall. Hop the guardrail to find a rough path down to the railroad grade. -Nathan

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